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Small crimes forge a large reaction
By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer LAND O'LAKES -- Faith Terry grew tired of the stories. Her neighbors talked of blown-up mailboxes, paint balls bursting against houses, and nails and tacks being placed under tires of parked cars. So she decided to fight back -- the neighborly way. "I guess I sort of instigated this whole thing," said Terry, who last month started organizing a neighborhood crime watch in the fledgling Oak Grove subdivision. "The community response has been overwhelming. It's just been a good community effort." Good is an understatement according to Tony Wilim, a former deputy now overseeing the Sheriff's Office crime prevention program in central Pasco. "Out of all my subdivisions, Oak Grove is the only one that has pulled together and organized to form a crime watch so fast," said Wilim, who oversees about 20 neighborhoods. "For a subdivision that size, there are a lot of people who have come together. I'm very happy." Terry, 50, said about 275 homes have been built in the area, with room for 800. She said about 100 people showed up at the first crime watch meeting in March. Another big group turned out for a second meeting on Tuesday. Terry said about 25 people have signed up to be "street captains," meaning they will help organize crime watches on their respective streets. From there, residents will set up regular patrols of the neighborhood (complete with walkie talkies) and a telephone tree where they can spread the word quickly about possible mischief. They even have a Web site to keep everyone informed of news and upcoming meetings. "It's time to get involved," said John Robinson, who also helped get the program under way. "Too many people focus on things other than their own homes. We're just saying to take in your mail, turn your porch lights on, leave some blinds open. There's so many things you can do." Robinson should know. Back in 1996, as a resident of Northdale in north Tampa, he became known as "The Crime Watch Guy" for his zest in creating a watch program in his neighborhood. Wilim said that compared to other neighborhoods, crime in Oak Grove is average. From January 2001 to February 2002, there were about 250 calls to law enforcement officers on incidents ranging from security alarms going off, to domestic violence, to speeding motorists, to cars broken into and other petty crimes. But despite the lack of violent or more serious crimes, Wilim said smaller incidents have plagued the area because construction sites and new homes in Pasco and New Tampa make a good target for pranksters. That makes having an effective crime watch all the more necessary, he said. For Robinson, it's more a matter of creating a friendly neighborhood, one where kids can play freely and where parents don't have to worry about vandalism. "We are not vigilantes," Robinson said. "I just want to have a community where everyone knows everyone, where everyone says 'hi.' If people see that you are willing to help, they are going to help, too." -- To reach Brady Dennis, call (352) 521-5757, ext. 23, or send e-mail to dennis@sptimes.com To learn moreTo find out more about the Oak Grove program, visit www.oakgrovecrimewatch.com.
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From the Times |
