Police encourage neighborhood watches

By Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer

November 21, 2008 08:33 pm

— It is no secret that those investing in the stock market have their eyes open daily to see what is happening to their investments, but a dwindling economy also should encourage homeowners to keep an eye on what is happening to their household items.
“As the economy worsens, our thefts go up,” said Col. Ed Robinson of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, who is in charge of helping county neighborhoods create neighborhood watches in an effort to help combat increasing crime.
Richmond and Berea police departments are offering the same services for those neighborhoods falling in their jurisdictions.
“You have to have a meeting with all people in the neighborhood and they have to decide whether or not they’re going to do it,” Robinson said. “Then, we give them a training manual.”
Most neighborhoods create a donation fund to help purchase “Neighborhood Watch” signs that can be created by most local sign printing businesses, Robinson said.
“It will pay off if they become involved,” he said.
Another helpful service that is now being provided by county, Richmond and Berea law enforcement is forms that allow homeowners to record the serial numbers of all their items of value.
The forms can be picked up at the law enforcement location or call and request that a form be mailed to the person’s address.
Once the forms are completed, they are to be taken to the homeowner’s respective law enforcement agency to be securely filed away.
If a break-in occurs and items are missing, all the victim has to do is contact the law enforcement agency and tell them what items are missing.
“There’s no way of identifying their property without serial numbers,” Robinson said.
The rise in burglaries is beginning to include daytime break-ins, Robinson said.
“We’ve even had daytime burglaries where people were actually asleep and had their door unlocked,” he said. “Some of these people have been arrested, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to stop. The advantage of neighborhood watches is neighbors watching neighbors.”
If a person living in a neighborhood is going to be gone for an extended amount of time, they should let their other neighbors know they will be gone and have them get the daily mail, he said.
Those who wish to create a neighborhood watch should contact their respective law enforcement agencies for more information: Madison County Sheriff’s Department at 623-1511; Richmond Police Department at 623-8911; or the Berea Police Department at 986-8456.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.