We live out in the country, a few miles from a small town. There is a turn-around where the county road ends and the private road begins. This turn-around is used by the county snowplow and the garbage truck (for people that live on the main road. We, along with a couple of other friends, own this piece of property.
Anyway, there is a former road (overgrown and dirt) that goes beyond the main road (this is where the turn-around is located). Over the years, kids have been using it for sex (found lots of used condoms & misc articles of clothing) & drugs (needles are now being found there). Trash has been dumped there, as well. We find human feces and toilet paper bihind the trees, as well. Yuck...
This has gone from a sometime thing to a semi-regular hang-out. Several of us do the clean-up each month, but it is getting out of hand.
Just a few days ago, we reported a vehicle that had been in the area for several days, parked in the "beyond" area at weird hours and, obviously, trying not to be visible. When the sheriff responded, they found the vehicle was stolen and all 4 guys inside were wanted for various crimes (mainly drug-related and burglary). All for are in jail. Not the type of folks you want in your area!
This really has brought things to a head for us. We are tired of it and want to make sure that people realize our area does not welcome any type of bad element. We are going to block-off the end of the road with big boulders (commercially-acquired), so that will help keep vehicles out of there (but still allow enough room for the county vehicles to make their full turns). No Trespassing signs are also going to be posted.
But, dh & I are talking about starting a Block Watch-type of organization in our area. I want to set-up a meeting with the neighbors and talk about this. I have already printed a list for folks to fill-out with all their phone numbers and vehicle info, so that we can all recognize who is who and what is what! We thought about signs saying this area is watched and any suspicious activity will be reported to the sheriff.
Our county law enforcement does not have any type of citizen/neighborhood crime prevention program, nor does the town (and neither agency sounded all that interested, which is weird). Looks like we're on our own as far as designing something!
Has anyone done this (or is already part of one) in a rural setting? How does it work in your area?
Anything you have done or are doing would be greatly appreciated!
Anyway, there is a former road (overgrown and dirt) that goes beyond the main road (this is where the turn-around is located). Over the years, kids have been using it for sex (found lots of used condoms & misc articles of clothing) & drugs (needles are now being found there). Trash has been dumped there, as well. We find human feces and toilet paper bihind the trees, as well. Yuck...
This has gone from a sometime thing to a semi-regular hang-out. Several of us do the clean-up each month, but it is getting out of hand.
Just a few days ago, we reported a vehicle that had been in the area for several days, parked in the "beyond" area at weird hours and, obviously, trying not to be visible. When the sheriff responded, they found the vehicle was stolen and all 4 guys inside were wanted for various crimes (mainly drug-related and burglary). All for are in jail. Not the type of folks you want in your area!
This really has brought things to a head for us. We are tired of it and want to make sure that people realize our area does not welcome any type of bad element. We are going to block-off the end of the road with big boulders (commercially-acquired), so that will help keep vehicles out of there (but still allow enough room for the county vehicles to make their full turns). No Trespassing signs are also going to be posted.
But, dh & I are talking about starting a Block Watch-type of organization in our area. I want to set-up a meeting with the neighbors and talk about this. I have already printed a list for folks to fill-out with all their phone numbers and vehicle info, so that we can all recognize who is who and what is what! We thought about signs saying this area is watched and any suspicious activity will be reported to the sheriff.
Our county law enforcement does not have any type of citizen/neighborhood crime prevention program, nor does the town (and neither agency sounded all that interested, which is weird). Looks like we're on our own as far as designing something!
Has anyone done this (or is already part of one) in a rural setting? How does it work in your area?
Anything you have done or are doing would be greatly appreciated!
If it's a private road, you have the right to do that.
