Atlantic Beach police suggest neighborhood watch after crime spree

The Atlantic Beach police suggested to residents Wednesday to start a neighborhood watch after a string of crimes happened in the area over the course of a few months.

Atlantic Beach neighbors, such as Charles Upchurch, said a neighborhood watch might help reduce crime in the beach community.

In the past few months, Action News Jax has covered car break-ins, teenagers getting caught for stealing a car, and a truck being stolen right out of a car lot . On Wednesday, an 8-year-old girl found a loaded gun on a street corner.

“Yesterday, when the kid found that gun, I wasn’t really surprised,” Upchurch said. He said he’s seen crime in his neighborhood increase. “If you go back 20-30 years ago, you could leave your car and house unlocked at  the beach,” he said.

The Atlantic Beach Police Department recently posted on Facebook about the idea of a neighborhood watch. “The watches network all the neighbors that gives them a means to communicate and that’s the key that they communicate with themselves and the police department,” Commander Victor Gualillo said.

Since the police department created the post, they said they have already had three calls Thursday morning from people interested in the idea.

Commander Gualillo said some people have started their own watch groups online, but that it’s important to include the police department. “If something pops up, like suspicious persons, deliver that info to us so we can act on it,” Gualillo said.

Cox Media Group