LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – After several reported break-ins in a southwest Las Vegas neighborhood, neighbors are banding together to fight back.
The Highlands Ranch community sits between Blue Diamond and Cactus, and Decatur and Jones. It’s a community neighbors say they felt safe in, up until recently.
Calls for Service from Metro Police show in the first two weeks of February, five residents reported burglaries in Highland Ranch.
Highlands Ranch HOA President Jani, who just wanted to use her first name, says there have been even more break-ins since the beginning of the year.
One neighbor, who wanted to stay anonymous, says her home was hit at the end of January. Video shows a masked group of three climbing over her neighbor’s wall onto her property. She says within minutes, the group stole jewelry and bags from her bedroom.
Jani isn’t sitting by and letting whoever is responsible have free reign. She says she is working with Enterprise Area Command to set up a Neighborhood Watch Program.
“All it took was one phone call, going to meet with them, letting them know we have a concern, and we need your help,” Jani says.
Metro Police say the program educates neighbors on how to identify and report suspicious activity. It’s run by residents, but the area command’s Crime Prevention Specialist serves as a guide, answering questions and offering solutions.
Highlands Ranch Resident Jeff Keech says getting more organized could be beneficial for the community.
“If it’s a program that’s available from Las Vegas Metro, I don’t see why we wouldn’t take advantage of it,” Keech says.
Jani says she hopes it will make neighbors aware of what’s happening, so they can all work together to catch who’s responsible.
“We are a village, and we can only do it if we do it together,” she says.
Metro says they will help any neighborhood set up a Neighborhood Watch Program, you just have to contact your Area Command’s Crime Prevention Specialist.
They say each Neighborhood Watch Program will look different, depending on which Area Command you live in.
Metro has 10 Crime Prevention Specialists, one for each Area Command. They can be reached by phone, email, or through a community service request.
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