Genoa, Ark., residents held a town hall meeting Thursday night to discuss implementing a Community Watch Program to cut down on area burglaries, District 11 Justice of the Peace William Green said.
"I think this will give a good insight into what this area needs to help cut back on thefts and home invasions," Green said. "A lot of good points are being made and that is wonderful."
Amber Ferguson and Wendy Butler, who helped organize the meeting with Green acting as facilitator, said they believe that it is important to have neighbors watching out for one another-to show thieves that residents are standing together to protect one another and their property.
"There is a lot of area to cover in Miller County and in Genoa. (We) have to work together as a community," Ferguson said. "We hope once (thieves) see that the community is coming together it will deter them."
Miller County Sheriff Ron Stovall addressed the audience with Green and said it was important for residents to keep their eyes open for suspicious activity-not just at their own homes but at their neighbors' homes as well.
"Know your neighbors," Genoa resident Mo Fomby said. "Get out there and speak and get to know them.
"You have to step up, not only for yourself but for your neighbor."
According to Genoa residents, theft has been a continuous problem in the unincorporated area of Miller County, just east of Texarkana.
Misti Price, who has volunteered to serve as a captain for the watch in her area, said that home invasions and thefts outside of homes have been going on for about three years.
Price said she has lived in Genoa for the past 38 years and she is always keeping her eyes open.
"We need more deputies," Price said. "I've never had anybody show up at my home in only 18 minutes."
Price and Ferguson agreed that longer call times were not the fault of the deputies.
"They are doing the best they can do. They are short-handed," Ferguson said. "We are also very appreciative of the sheriff, for him showing his support in this."
Ferguson said she and her husband were robbed a few years back and that she will never forget how it made them feel.
"They took things I could never replace," Ferguson said, adding that even groceries were taken.
"I don't ever want that to happen again."
Andy LaGrone, JP of District 8, attended the meeting in a show of support for Green and fellow community residents. LaGrone said he has had roughly $30,000 worth of copper stolen off his property-including an instance where all the copper was stolen out of his chicken house.
"It's important to know who your neighbors are," LaGrone said. "When I worked for an alarm company once, we were told that the two things burglars hate most is light and noise."
"Motion lights are great, as well as game cameras," he added.
Butler and Ferguson compiled a list of home safety tips for residents, including:
- Keep valuables hidden from sight (yard decor, ATVs and other outside equipment).
- Keep home address visible on mailbox.
- Keep the home well-lit.
- Check window and door locks for security.
- Burn evidence of big-ticket items, such as TV and stereo boxes, receipts and etc.
- Review an emergency plan of action with the family.
- Keep homes visible by trimming shrubs and growth.
- Install some sort of home security system.
- Inspect pet doors and think of ways to secure them when not home.
- Take pictures of all firearms and record the serial numbers for references. Ferguson recommends a photo album that contains pictures of valuables.
- Stay insured at all times.
- Create a code word for children for emergencies.
- Consider arming the home after attending a gun safety course (keeping all guns in a secure location and out of sight, safe bolted to the floor.).
Sign-up sheets for the community watch were available at the end of the meeting for residents interested in participating.
"We will assign people that are interested in being captains for parts of our area, like Misti (Price)," Ferguson said.
Butler said a future meeting will be announced in the near future to work out steps to organize the watch and put it into motion.