Nearly two dozen residents attended the New Carlisle Crime Watch meeting last Wednesday to discuss local crime statistics and methods of deterring crime in their neighborhoods.
During the meeting, Jeff Turner of K9 Solutions Center/Black Shield LLC, brought up his idea of networking private security cameras throughout town so that they could be viewed online throughout the day and night.
Turner’s Black Shield LLC specializes in state-of-the-art cameras and home security systems. He said that just within the past two weeks, he has sold nearly a dozen security systems to New Carlisle residents, which gave him the idea of somehow linking the footage from cameras in homes that agree to participate. The project is still just an idea, according to Turner, who noted that he would still have to do some “legal research” and other investigating, but said that the system would allow multiple users to simultaneously watch the live feeds online.
“If someone was staying up at night, they could watch it on their computer,” Turner said, adding that such a system would help deter crimes such as the recent rash of car break-ins that occurred within the city.
Turner said it likely would not cost anything to perform the networking, and asked the Crime Watch Committee to consider how it could assist them.
Ron Cobb also spoke during the meeting, saying that he and Bill Lindsey were still seeking volunteers for the Citizens On Preventive Patrol group, which would have eligible residents patrol the city in shifts, looking for suspicious activity. These volunteers would not have any of the same abilities as law enforcement officers, but would act as “an extra set of eyes for the city,” according to Cobb.
He said that seven people have shown an interest in volunteering so far, and said that Beavercreek also has a COPP program. Cobb said that City Manager Randy Bridge and City Councilman Rick Lowrey did a “ride-along” with the Beavercreek COPP and said that “they were very impressed by the program.”
Detective Ron Fader of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office presented crime stats from the month of September and said that break-ins and thefts from sheds and detached garages were on the rise. The highest areas of crime in September were thefts, at 12, as well as felony assaults and criminal damaging, with four reports each. There was only one drug offense reported in September. Year-to-date, the highest areas of crime in New Carlisle are thefts, with 88 reports, and drug offenses, at 68.
The New Carlisle Crime Watch group meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Smith Park Shelter House. The next meeting is set for Wednesday, November 11, but is subject to change.
