O“Brien neighbors meet to address crime prevention issues
From our weekly issue dated February 10, 2010
Criminals in O“Brien take note “ the community members are fuming, and they“re not going to take it anymore.
More than 30 concerned citizens were addressed Saturday, Feb. 6 at Illinois Valley Fire District Station 3 in O“Brien by Undersheriff Don Fasching, of the Josephine County Sheriff“s Office.
Fasching advised residents that they could help themselves in several ways.
Senior volunteers can give presentations and assist in developing Neighborhood Watch programs, Fasching said. Trusted neighbors are the best source of protection “ they know who belongs in the area. Develop phone trees in case of emergency, the undersheriff urged.
Car alarms can be activated from indoors to alert the neighbors that something is wrong. While the undersheriff is not advocating vigilantism, a group of neighbors arriving with honking horns, bright lights and cameras are a good deterrent to criminals, he said.
He reminded the group that lethal force is justified only for self-defense, not to protect property. If a burglar is climbing in through the window, announce, “Leave now. I have a gun, and I am in fear of my life.“
Other self-help ideas include motion-detector lights, and clearing shrubs and trees from around houses. One recommendation from a participant was inexpensive “Day & Night“ cameras, which have an infrared flash and automatically record the date and time of some 4,000 photos for hard evidence.
Certain “problem residences“ were brought to the attention of the undersheriff, who recommended that citizens record and document dates and times of suspected illegal activities. Descriptions of people and cars, license plate numbers “ even taking photos can assist law enforcement officers, he said.
Absentee home owners can be held liable if they are put on notice that renters are engaging in illegal or dangerous activity on their property.
Form letters detailing the problems should be signed by everyone in the neighborhood and sent by registered mail. The Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality is the strongest ally for sewage, groundwater, litter and dumping issues. Zoning and health issues should be addressed to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. Photos, letters and e-mails are more effective than phone calls, because they can be tracked.
Dogs-at-large was another issue plaguing some in the O“Brien area. And because county Animal Control consists of Brad Talley and a staff of two, there is not enough enforcement to cover the entire county.
Some suggestions for dealing with problem dogs were air horns and even pepper spray. One nonviolent solution: paint-ball guns “ the dog“s owner will surely realize something is up when the dog comes home decorated with large purple splotches of paint.
Monthly neighborhood watch meetings may continue at the O“Brien fire station.
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