Alert Neighbor Program In Full Force

Police say it helps them solve crime when citizens act as their extra eyes and ears. It's called being an Alert Neighbor and more than 100 Tulsa neighborhoods have joined the battle in preventing

Monday, April 3rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Police say it helps them solve crime when citizens act as their extra eyes and ears. It's called being an Alert Neighbor and more than 100 Tulsa neighborhoods have joined the battle in preventing crime.

Tulsa's Citizen Crime Commission and a small army of Tulsans are on a mission to make Tulsa safer. The members are going door to door making alert neighbors of those who answer their knock.

"It seems like so far they've all heard of the alert neighbor program which is good," says Commission Leader Lisa Ford.

Being an alert neighbor means just what it says staying alert to what goes on around your home.

"People that live in the neighborhood they know what's normal and what's not normal if an officer drove down this street he wouldn't know if that car belonged there or not to him it's just a car parked in the driveway but if you live in the neighborhood you'll know that Mrs. Jones is out of town and maybe her cleaning lady is not supposed to be there and there's a car there," says Ford.

Bobby Moore is on the commission's Saturday route in the 61st and Lewis area. He says his security system is one of the best in the neighborhood Sugar is her name.

"I worry about sure like everybody else so far my experience in this neighborhood it hasn't been as rampant as other places but I know it's still there," says Moore.

Last year, Tulsa police reported the highest number of crimes around his neighborhood, but they're hoping the residents will help them get that number down. The Crime Commission is hoping so, too.

The Citizens Crime Commission will teach you and your neighbors how to be Alert Neighbors. If you would like to set up a meeting in your neighborhood, call 585-5209. This is a free service.