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Hazelwood Police Offer Safety Tips Through Neighborhood Watch Programs
BY JEANETTE EBERLIN-RIZZELLO
Personal safety and cooperation with local police departments are two topics discussed at length last week by Hazelwood police officer Don Routh.
Routh was speaking to a group of residents of Santa Maria apartments on Dunn Road in Hazelwood. He had been asked to discuss the city’s Neighborhood Watch program on situations related to residents who reside in multiple family facilities.
Roth told the group that the Neighborhood Watch program was brought into Hazelwood by Chief Carl Wolf when he came into the city in 1985.
“Because of its importance it was one of the first programs that the chief instituted” Roth said “Neighborhood Watch is one program that has consistently had results in reducing crime.”
“Several years ago this area was a rural community and with most rural areas, most people knew each other. With the growth of the several small cities in North St. Louis County the area took on more of the characteristics of a big city. This makes the small cities face some of the same problems as they do in a big city.
“One of those characteristics is people not having a sense of community and not knowing their neighbor. Given this lack of community, people do not communicate well with one another. This can sometimes give criminals an upper hand. The key to safe neighborhoods is communication.”
“Criminals don’t necessarily live here so we have to be on our toes. Twenty percent of the criminals get away but 60 to 70 percent of the time we catch them,” Roth urged.
“We, (local police departments) can’t do our jobs without your help. We must work together, that’s what we’re after. If you see something, or someone suspicious, call the police right away.”
He gave the residents several safety measures to follow. He advised:
o Always keep your car door locked if you are getting in or out of the car.
o Don’t leave stuff in your car. If they don’t see what’s in it, they won’t try to steal it.
o Don’t leave your purse on the seat beside you; put it on the floor where it is more difficult for someone to grab it.
o Carry your purse very close to you, don’t let it dangle from your arm; better yet, if possible, just carry your money in a pocket.
o Don’t carry your bank book in your purse, if you can avoid it.
o Leave bundles or bags in the trunk.
Routh announced that if anyone knew of any group, neighborhood, or area of persons who would be interested in having a Neighborhood Watch program, they should call him at (314) 513-5208.
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