CITIZENS FIGHT BACK AGAINST CRIME

Neighbourhood Watch Group Forming

A number of Wallaceburg residents are tired of crime in their
neighbourhoods and have decided to do something about it.

A number of individuals stepped forward to form a Neighbourhood Watch
committee, following a presentation on Crime Prevention at The Oak's
Inn last week.

"Our goal here tonight is to bring forth someone in Wallaceburg to
take on a leadership role, to form a Neighbourhood Watch in
Wallaceburg," said Chatham Coun. and East Side Pride founder Marjorie Crew.

She, along with founders of other Neighbourhood Watch groups and the
Chatham-Kent Police Service, made presentations on what can be done
to eradicate crime in our communities.

"I'm just fed up with it, with all the drugs and stuff," said
Wallaceburg resident Joe Janssens, who attended the meeting. "What
happens if the kids were to pick that stuff up? I'm very concerned about it."

"We need to protect our children," said a Wallaceburg resident who
asked not to be named. "We need to stop crime. Our children need a
safe place to ride their bikes and to play."

She said living in a neighbourhood with more than a dozen young
children, that's close to a day care and public facilities, she is
concerned about drugs circulating in the area.

"Impaired driving does not just mean drunk," she said. "What if one
of those people were to hit and kill one of those children?"

She, along with other people in her neighbourhood, have stepped
forward to be Neighbourhood Watch captains.

"Someone has to do something," she said, noting if everyone decided
to do nothing out of fear, the community will never clean up.

District 1 Sgt. Mike Curran said, per capita, Wallaceburg does have a
high crime rate, but there is lots the community can do to help.

He is encouraging people to record suspicious incidents and phone
them into the police. He would also like to see more people reporting
crimes as they happen.

"We do want them to call," said Curran. "People may think it's
inconsequential, but it may be that little piece we need for an
investigation or that bit of info to support a warrant."

He added criminals will not commit crimes in areas where there is a
high risk of being caught.

"That's why it is so critical to be able to engage the community,"
said Curran. "Then the crime will become displaced."

Anyone who has witnessed any kind of suspicious activity, whether it
be unusual vehicles, drug deals, car thefts or break-and-enters, is
asked to call 519-352-1234 ext. 0 to report it.

He said in Wallaceburg, 42 per cent of break-ins in 2006 were
residential, 38 per cent were garages or sheds, 15 per cent were
businesses and three per cent were classified as other.

"Most of these incidents were at any particular time of day," he said.

However, he did note 40 per cent of break and enters happened in the
month of April.

Nicer weather, combined with known felons being released from jail,
are two of the contributing factors for the increase in crime.

Those who would like to see the community's crime review can do so by
logging on to www.ckpolice.com.