By Karen Cohilas - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Neighborhood watch leaders say they're sick of criminals running the streets, and they want to take them back. They organized a county-wide neighborhood watch meeting Saturday morning at the Law Enforcement Center downtown.
The police department is the place you typically go to report crimes, but close to 100 people are expected to gather here to help prevent it.
Pink Whelchel is a nosy neighbor, just the kind of neighbor he says you need. "You want a nosy neighbor if you can find one," she said.
To watch out for you and your family when you aren't home. "I'm conscious of everything going on in the neighborhood and that's what we want the neighbors to be conscious of."
He says he's sick of thieves going through neighborhoods and taking what doesn't belong to them. "I don't want anybody stealing from my house and you don't either."
Nor does Jerome Lowery. He organized a combined city and county neighborhood watch meeting. It's not just petty thefts that have him concerned. "Some of my main concerns regarding crime is the homicide rate. From what I understand, we had 10 this year, which is 10 too many."
And he even knew some of the victims. He doesn't want anyone else to become a victim of a murder, or any other crime. "We are encouraging a lot of people to show up because time has changed. You no longer can leave your door open, you car unlocked and it's basically about neighbors watching, looking out for one another."
Pink Whelchel will be on the lookout, and he says you should too. "Be a nosy neighbor."
To be a good neighbor and keep the bad guys out.
To learn more about neighborhood watch, or to express your concerns about crime in your area, you can come to the meeting at the Law Enforcement Center. It starts sharply at 9:30 AM.
Anytime you do see something suspicious in your neighborhood, call the police. They'll be happy to come out and check the area for you.
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