Local neighborhood starts neighborhood watch following break-ins

Within the past month, there have been close to a dozen burglaries in the Murray Hill area.

A white truck was caught on a neighbor’s surveillance video leaving a Murray Hill home moments after the homeowner said it was broken into.

The man who lives in the house said electronics and money were taken.

Other neighbors believe it’s the same truck that is connected to other burglaries in the area.

“It’s scary to be home alone sometimes,” a neighbor said.

A woman, who wanted to remain anonymous since the suspects haven’t been caught, said crime is getting worse in the area.

“It is a problem. Sometimes it’s the company they keep or random people venturing in,” a woman said.

Action News Jax used JSO’s crime-mapping tool and found that within the past month there have been 16 thefts and 10 burglaries within a mile's radius of her home.

According to the crime map, break-ins have increased since March.

“It is concerning because there are a lot of kids around here,” she said.

Marguerite Barr said she started a neighborhood watch group to try to keep people safe.

“We all work together, keep a watch on each other’s properties,” Barr said.

There are several neighborhood watch signs on and around the street where she lives.

Barr said she thinks it helps deter crime.

“I urge all neighborhoods to get together with your neighbors and form your own community group,” Barr said.

Besides neighborhood watch signs, she said that it also helps when people have their own video surveillance system.

“They position some of the cameras to the neighbor’s homes, so in any given time (if) we have a problem or suspicious people, we will check with each other and see what they have on film,” Barr said.

Neighbors said they have reached out to JSO to request more officers to patrol the area.

Cox Media Group