I have good news and bad news. Luckily, the bad news can be
remedied with some good old-fashioned Neighborhood Watch
techniques. We have to work together if we want to keep our streets
safe.
I have good news and bad news. Luckily, the bad news can be remedied with some good old-fashioned Neighborhood Watch techniques. We have to work together if we want to keep our streets safe.
Rea Street is located in the heart of Gilroy. My family moved across town to Rea Street in 1989 and many of the residents lived on the street for more than 40 years and were retired. My parents were the “youngsters,” and while they went to work everyday, they felt safe knowing so many eyes and ears were dedicated to keeping the neighborhood safe.
Many residents on the north end of Rea have a list of all residents’ names, numbers, vehicle descriptions and emergency contact information to help keep safety a priority. This an excellent and easy way to unite a neighborhood. This brings me to the good news …
Jon Nussbaum, author of “Communication and Aging,” reports that only four percent of seniors actually reside in nursing homes. The majority of our elders live in our neighborhoods. They may live in communities like Sunset Gardens or Village Green, which offer a sense of security. Some may live with family members, while others maintain their independence and live in their own homes. All of this is good news, but it worries me as well.
Previously I have mentioned that some of our older residents may suffer from diminished visual or auditory acuity. Seniors can also suffer from fatigue, loss of muscle mass and a limited capacity to be quick and agile; their reaction times in emergency situations may be slower. With sensory and motor losses like these, their safety can be compromised in certain situations. Which brings me to the bad news …
Reporter Sara Suddes wrote Tuesday, in “Thefts up 10 percent,” that there has been an increase in crime in Gilroy since last year. Gilroy Police Sgt. Jim Gillio said the spike may be caused by a downturn in the economy or population growth.
Recent reported crimes include:
Two residential burglaries
Two assaults
Three vehicle burglaries
One robbery
The crimes occurred on Montebello, Santa Teresa and Filice drives, and Miller Avenue.
I would like to encourage everyone to participate in a citywide Neighborhood Watch. Keep your eyes and ears open and monitor what is happening on your streets. Take note of who’s hanging around – are they visiting a neighbor? Is the neighbor home? Have you seen these strangers before?
If your home has alley access, take an extra five minutes and make driving down the alley part of your daily routine. If you are on your way out or on your way home, drive down the alley first. By making your presence known, you may deter would-be burglars. An unpredictable pattern of surveillance like this will keep the bad guys guessing. But you’ve got to participate if you want to see positive change.
Keep your windows and doors locked even when you are home. If you have a screen door, keep it locked when you do answer the door. Remember: we don’t owe strangers anything. We don’t have to answer the door just because someone knocks. If your car has an alarm but your home does not, keep your keys nearby. If you hear a suspicious noise, sound the alarm on your car. It will hopefully scare burglars away and draw neighbor’s attention to your home.
If we are fed-up with crime and are saying enough is enough, we must contribute to our community’s security. Let’s look out for the safety of our children and our senior citizens.
Check out www.ci.gilroy.ca.us/police to learn more about recent crime in your neighborhood. Click the public information page, then click on crime reports. Type in your address and select “within the last 30 days.” A map will appear and you click on the icons – ‘V’ for vehicle burglary, ‘A’ for assault and so on.
