|
|
Jenkins thanked the citizens for their increased awareness.
"It's working," he remarked. "We need them to continue to watch. They are doing great."
One case resulted in the arrests of two males, ages 17 and 18, following a 911 call for a "peeping Tom" on Depot Street, according to Jenkins. Another arrest was made in the 100 block of Rottmann Drive.
However, Jenkins was quick to point out he doesn't believe the recent arrests will solve the recent suspicious activity occurring around Marthasville. Most notably, residents have complained about a prowler lurking around the town attempting to break into homes and garages.
Last Tuesday, more than 20 people showed up at city hall to learn more about starting a neighborhood watch program to alert residents to the recent incidents.
The forums were prompted from concerns raised by Alderman Leo Tobben at last month's board of aldermen meeting, following a story published in The Record about reports of homes being broken into in Marthasville. He said he'd received several phone calls from residents who were unaware of the incidents.
In one case, it was reported a burglar entered a home on Daniel's Trail through an open garage door and unlocked door during an early-morning September day. The suspect, however, was spooked from the house because one of the three occupants happened to be sleeping on the couch. A prowler was located two weeks later peeking inside the window of the same residence.
In another September incident, two males fled the scene while standing next to a door at a residence when the homeowners pulled into their driveway. "The citizens need to be alert," Tobben stated. "We need to police ourselves because we can't have people there all the time. We need to get this nailed."
Additional forums will be held but have yet to be scheduled, Jenkins said. He added that signs will be posted at the corners of Griswold and Hiawatha streets to notify residents when future forums are held.
Until last week's arrests, Jenkins and Sheriff Kevin Harrison both said many of the previous incidents were never reported.
Both urged citizens to call 911 when suspicious activity is noticed. Also, residents can deter criminal activity by keeping their vehicles locked and their garage doors closed when it's dark.
Jenkins and deputies are patrolling the area where most of the reports are coming.
For at least two Marthasville residents, the reports of a prowler have caught their attention in the past couple of months. Both Steve Tolliver and Troy Nauman have seen the suspects around neighbor's homes and scared them off.
Tolliver has taken precautions by installing security lights at the back of his house.
"In this neighborhood, we thought it would never happen," he said. Nauman said he moved his family to Marthasville from Pacific because of the quiet rural setting.
"Heaven forbid someone tries to get something honest," he remarked. "We all are looking out for each other. It's to the point when I see motion lights on, I wonder what is going on."
