I just attended my first meeting of the Bomber Heights crime watch group this last Monday 8-15-05 and was encouraged by some of the things I heard discussed. I have personally lived in this area now for about 13 years and have seen the crime rate here rapidly escalate within just the past few years to the point of near absurdity. Either the people in this neighborhood are going to band together and eliminate this or we are all going to be eventually faced with an unliveable neighborhood where car thefts, burglaries, illegal drugs, violence and assorted other problems will run rampant. I have personally been the victim of 2 car thefts, 2 burglaries of a company vehicle, an attempted assault by group of intoxicated delinquents, attempted car break-ins and several other more minor offenses just within the past few years and I am absolutely fed up with it. Although I am encouraged with some of the ideas that I heard discussed, the idea of putting up crime watch signs throughout the neighborhood, for instance, to me is pretty much a waste of time. Not that I have all the answers or anything or am trying to stop others from doing what they think is right, it's just that from what I have seen around here in this area lately, the type of individuals that seem to be committing the majority of offenses around here are not going to be the slightest bit deterred from committing more crimes by the sight of a crime watch sign. Much to the contrary, I think that these signs might be used as nothing more than further property to be defaced by offensive gang grafitti. I would favor the allocation of community resources to be used in a more perhaps ''aggressive'' fashion. Nevertheless, I plan on attending regular meetings and hearing what others have to say as well as encouraging more of my neighbors to attend and to get more active in your program. Thanks again, Gregg Orange

Bomber Heights COP Group

I have been told by our patroling officers that our neighborhood is the place to come if you are in need of meth. You are right that crime is worse and that Crime Watch signs alone are not enough. Saturday 8-27 the Bomber Heights COP group formed. As of now there are only 6 members. I anticipate this number to grow quickly once people in our neighborhood realize that we now have an organized community and we are serious about cleaning up this neighborhood. Shortly our community will begin noticing Citizens On Patol vechicles patrolling our neighborhood 24/7. The next COP class will be October 15th. I encourage everyone that can spare 2 hours a month to go to this class. Our neighborhood is worth at least that much time!!!

By Carolee

Further comments

From my own personal experience the vast majority of crime activity that seems to be occuring in this neighborhood is being committed by adolescents and young adults, primarily on weekend nights. A large percentage of these individuals are more than likely intoxicated and/or on illegal drugs while they are committing these crimes. The car theft/vandalism problem in this area is getting to the point of being of epidemic proportions. Curfews need to be rigidly enforced here and any suspicious adolescent group activity needs to be reported to local authorities immediatly. Hopefully, with more community involvement we can all work together to make this area a safe and decent area in which to live and raise our families again and send a definite message to these disrespectful law breaking punks that this type of activity will not be tolerated here any longer. I applaud the efforts of my neighboors in taking part in COP and hope that it will play a role in deterring crime in this area in the future. I personally can't stand living near or even being around methamphetamine manufacturers, dealers or users as I have personally witnessed people ruin their entire lives as a result of their use and/or addiction to this vile substance and simply will not tolerate it being in my presence.