Housing residents, 19 SFS employ teamwork to snag criminals

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  All base residents are needed to help identify suspicious activity in base housing, according to 19th Security Forces Squadron officials.

In the past four months, Team Little Rock had 11 confirmed break-ins, four of which belonged to residents who were either on leave or TDY.

"We also had four cases of unsecured homes and 15 cases of vandalism reported," said Cefus Benner, 19th SFS supervisory police officer. He adds that the last confirmed break-in occurred Dec. 19, 2010.

To help protect base housing residents and enable them to catch criminals, 19th SFS members joined forces with base housing staff to create an unofficial, localized "neighborhood watch" program.

"We just want people to be observant because they know the neighborhood better than the cops patrolling it," said Mr. Benner. "They know when people are on leave or TDY and they can notice someone who doesn't live there."

If base housing residents see something that seems out of place, base officials want to know about it.

"The Little Rock Air Force Base neighborhood watch program is intended to work much the same as it does throughout the U.S.," said Maj. Timothy McCarty, 19th SFS commander. "It's a program intended to raise awareness amongst neighbors while at the same time letting would-be criminals know we are watching this neighborhood."

Little Rock's neighborhood watch program launched Jan. 11 during a meeting at the base housing welcome center. Base leaders, housing residents, housing staff and a representative from the Jacksonville Police Department attended to meeting to share home security tips.

"We gave tips on how not to be a target," said Mr. Benner. "If you're on leave or TDY, stop your mail and newspapers or have a trusted neighbor pick them up for you. Also, have them check on the house and rearrange the curtains ... anything to make the house appear as though someone is there."

In addition to being observant in their own neighborhood, base housing residents can also request a Vacation Quarters Watch check for their home.

"Folks just need to come [to the 19th SFS building] and fill out a form with their name, address and information such as length of absence and if they are leaving behind any vehicles or pets," said Mr. Benner. "Then at least once every 24 hours a patrol goes by and checks the house. Since the meeting, we've had 10 sign up so far."

Major McCarty said the bottom line for Little Rock's neighborhood watch program is getting every Team Little Rock member involved.

"The idea is that every single person who lives and works on Little Rock AFB be involved because every Airman is a sensor," he said. "[Neighborhood watch] is important because Team Little Rock deserves it. They deserve to live and work in a crime-free environment. It's important that we catch criminals and prevent further crimes from occurring in our own backyard.

"For those who commit crimes in our backyard, you are on notice, you will eventually be caught and you will pay the price," Major McCarty said.

To report any suspicious activity, call Crime Stop at 987-6600.