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Business owners meet to discuss crime-watch alliance
By MICHAEL SANDLER © St. Petersburg Times, published October 1, 2000 HIGHWOODS PRESERVE -- Local business owners listened closely as police officers and sheriff's deputies delivered a message: New Tampa is growing quickly. More homes. More businesses. More people. And yes, more crime, too. "This is still the best part of the city to live in," said Sgt. Bob Weinhold of the Tampa Police Department, who leads one of two patrols in New Tampa. He is also a resident and owns a business nearby on Bearss Avenue. "But you will see with growth, crime is gradually increasing. Now is the time to organize, to get businesses involved before crime increases." The officers spoke to a group of 50 people attending the New Tampa Community Council meeting at the Wingate Inn on Thursday. The local civic association, comprised of approximately 200 residents and business owners, is hoping to organize a business crime watch. Secretary Todd Weiner, a local dentist, volunteered to start the watch and enlisted support from the Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The law enforcement agencies offer the service at no cost to businesses. The officers said they can help set up a phone chain that could also include fax numbers and e-mail, assist with employee background checks and instruct employees what to do in the event of a crime. The officers pointed to the Westshore Business Alliance as an example of a successful business watch. The group, considered the largest in Florida by law enforcement officials, uses cellular phones that also work as two-way radios to stay in contact. "If someone robs a gas station on Fowler Avenue, we can let people know all the way up (Bruce B. Downs)," said Cpl. Gary Bradford of the Tampa Police Department, Weiner's partner in the endeavor. Thursday night's meeting was simply an introduction, Weiner said. But many in attendance were impressed, and at least 20 businesses have already expressed interest. Weiner hopes to enlist more in the coming months by going door to door. "It's going to take some time," said Weiner. "We are going to get out there, pound the pavement and get people to sign on." -- Michael Sandler can be reached at (813) 226-3472 or sandler@sptimes.com.
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