Local

Neighborhood watch program relaunched in south DeKalb

Community leaders in south DeKalb County have vowed to step up efforts to fight crime.

Carolyn Green has lived in the Riverwood subdivision in south DeKalb County for 16 years, but she told Channel 2's Liz Artz she is in the process of packing up. She's putting her home on the market because she said she no longer feels safe in the area.

Her home has been broken into twice. The third time neighbors scared away a thief. Green said all of her electronics were taken, her gun was taken and the thief went into her refrigerator and helped himself.

Residents in the Riverwood subdivision have seen three other recent break-ins. Resident Myra Alexander said there have been 14 in the general area, and that's just a small part of a larger problem.

Crime stats show 800 crimes of varying degrees in the last six months. On Saturday, DeKalb County leaders addressed the issue. County Police Chief Cedric Alexander said the department is redirecting almost two dozen officers to neighborhoods in south DeKalb.

Green said it was a good effort but she said she thinks there are more criminals than police.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Alexander, who has lived in Riverwood nearly 40 years, isn't giving up. She said she's tired of the crime and is ready to become more involved. She said the neighborhood association is relaunching the neighborhood watch program.

She told Artz they will go door-to-door and ask neighbors to be on the look-out and call police to report anything suspicious.