Neighbors in one community are fighting back against crime. Benton Police are seeing an increase in neighborhood crime watch associations.
"Unfortunately in this day and age with the market the way it is, more people are going to come out to these nice little suburbs and communities to commit crimes," resident Vicki Houdek said. “We've had people using remote control garage openers that you can buy at Lowe’s or Home Depot. They'll go through and see which one will open a garage and they've taken mostly like tools but not into a house yet.
In hopes of keeping it that way Vicki Houdek started a neighborhood watch group. "I have a list that I send out with addresses and phone numbers. So if you need help, you can call. If you're going out of town, you can say 'hey, can you keep an eye on my house. Can you check this.' It's a sense of security, safety."
Sandra Kirk asks: “So after these criminals opened up garages, you guys sent out an email?”
“We sent out an email describing how you can lock up your garage, so these won't work. Everyone has, for the most part, these panels. Hit the lock button until that starts blinking. Once you do that, these no longer work,” Houdek explained.
Since then there have been no reports of garages being opened. And more Benton neighborhoods are joining the program.
“I've definitely seen more phone calls in the last six months than I have in two years,” she said. "I think it has to do with some of the property crime we are seeing and they're getting fed up so this is their way to fight back."
"I know I can call my neighbors on either side of me, I can call neighbors on the other road, anybody I need to make sure I'm safe, make sure my kids are safe."
Hurricane Lake Estates also started a neighborhood watch group earlier this year.
