“We need to take our community back.”
That is the sentiment of neighbors in the Old Allendale Highway area.
Essie Kemp, chairperson for the Old Allendale Highway neighborhood crime watch group urged her neighbors to action during the unveiling of the group’s first Neighborhood Crime watch sign, Aug. 20.
Barnwell County Sheriff Ed Carroll said, “We are losing the war as far as law enforcement. We’ve got to have help, at least to give our children a chance to grow up safely.”
“You’ve got to have some responsibility yourself,” he said to the group of about 30 neighbors who came out to see the sign unveiled.
“Crime is here. It will find a way into the cleanest places we have,” said Rep. Hosey. “The sheriff is understaffed. We need to have that invisible deputy,” he said asking the crowd to watch out for each other.
Co-chairperson Cynthia Sanders said the group has already had two meetings prior to the sign unveiling.
“We have about 60 neighbors participating,” Sanders said.
Sanders herself has had experience with crime.
“I’ve had some crime incidents near my home,” she said.
Sanders said someone even tried to steal the water pump out of her yard.
Barnwell County Councilman Joe Smith said it was “very ironic” that the sheriff was standing before council talking about crime when the Sweetwater Circle shooting incident occurred.
Smith said in recent times, County Council has had to cut the Sheriff department’s budget.
“We still need to give him the support,” Smith said of neighbors calling in with information about crimes in their neighborhoods.
Smith urged residents to call the Crime Stompers number to report any and all unusual happenings in their neighborhoods. Smith said callers can remain anonymous.
Barnwell County Councilman Lowell Jowers said he remembered the security of years gone by.
“We never locked the doors,” he said.
Although times are different, Jowers said neighbors should look out for one another.
“Let your neighbors know when you will be out of town,” he said. “We need to take back Barnwell County.”
Carroll said his department also will do property checks for residents when they are out of town. But he said having neighbors check each other’s property is a good idea because his deputies cannot be in the neighborhood at all times.
Sanders said the Old Allendale Highway Crime watch group is organized and ready. They have already elected block captains and urge those who may see suspicious things to contact the block captain, CrimeStompers or the Sheriff’s office.
This is the third neighborhood crime watch group to organize this year.
An informational meeting for groups and individuals interested in starting their own neighborhood crime watch will be held, Aug. 26 at Friendship Baptist Church. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m.