Police credit neighborhood watch group for helping fight crime
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) — When it comes to tackling neighborhood crime, homeowners in Portsmouth say “see something, say something” is a motto that works.
The Mound Park Neighborhood Watch Group is celebrating a year in action with a gift from the city.
Portsmouth Police Chief Robert Ware on Monday unveiled the first official neighborhood watch sign on Grant Street.
Fourteen additional signs will be added throughout the watch area.
“If you come in here and you do things you’re not supposed to be doing, somebody’s watching and they’re talking,” Ware said.
“They see our signs and now they’re starting to see the cameras, now they’re going to see these signs and they’re going to know we’re serious,” watch group member Karen Hill said.
The group started with yard signs followed by several members investing in surveillance cameras.
There are more than 370 members in the group on Facebook keeping an eye on the neighborhood and reporting crime to police.
“It’s been a tremendous help in investigating arsons, burglaries, break-ins, drug dealing, suspicious people at night,” Ware said.
Ware says the department has made several arrests and is stopping crime before it occurs due to tips from the group. Just recently, the group is helping the fire department with their investigation into an arson.
Both the neighborhood watch and police are encouraging other neighborhoods to create their own watch groups. If you’re interested or have any questions, you can reach out to the Mound Park group on Facebook or call the police department.