News

Melrose Heights employs unique neighborhood watch program

July 8, 2010
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The Melrose Heights neighborhood is employing a unique type of neighborhood watch that uses the Internet to help get the word out to its citizens.

Joseph Gilmore has called the neighborhood his home for more than 40 years now.

Gilmore says the Melrose area is a safer, less crime-ridden area than it was when he settled there in 1969.

"Well at first it was kind of awful," said Gilmore. "People would break into your house, cars stolen."

Helping to turn things around is an unusually active neighborhood association with Fred Easley at the helm as president.

"One of the primary reasons for doing any of this is for the greater good," said Easley.

Easley keeps the community on top of what's happening around them with an emailed newsletter. It often contains crime alerts or updates on developments that could affect the quality of life in Melrose and nearby neighborhoods.

"Information is important to get out so that you can keep the rumors from becoming bigger picture problems," said Easley. "And one of the things I've found to be most important is that people can make good decisions when they have good information."

The Columbia Police Department has an officer assigned to the area. CPD says its job is a lot easier when neighbors are organized and vigilant, like they are in Melrose.

"The key is getting most if not all of the community involved," said CPD Capt. Derrick Thornton. "What we do tend to see sometimes, not so much with the Melrose community but some of the other communities, you have a core group of people who do everything. And you need the whole community involved."

Another big help is regular neighborhood meetings. Melrose Heights holds its gatherings every month here at the community center. The next one is scheduled for July 12.

You got to be a knit together neighborhood," said Gilmore. "Knit together and watch out for each other."

Posted on WIS TV
By Jack Kuenzie