The recent rash of burglaries in various parts of Austin has been making news. However in Barton Hills, residents are happy to report that their neighborhood has seen a significant decrease in crime.
This home surveillance video from January shows one brazen burglar kicking in the door to this South Austin home. He and an accomplice then go inside. Just over a minute later one comes out clutching a flat screen TV. The two also made off with other electronics and jewelry without anyone stopping them.
"That really bothered me because I just can't imagine that happening with an active neighborhood watch patrol," said John Luther, the chairman of the Barton Hills Neighborhood Watch Program.
Luther says the neighborhood patrol was started in February.
Luther, Jeff Morris and numerous other residents volunteer about an hour of their time once a week to drive around the roughly 8-square miles that make up the Barton Hills neighborhood.
"None of us has actually seen a burglary in progress since we started doing this, but the number of burglaries has dropped way out of sight and the only reason you can ascribe to that people who case the neighborhood have seen us patrolling and decided it's not worth the risk," said Morris, who has lived in Barton Hills for 30 years.
Residents here are also taught ways to make it more difficult for burglars to gain entry into their homes, such as replacing the one inch screws which secure most dead bolts with three inch screws.
"Now when you kick this door, you have a lot more strength than just two inches of pine, you have this entire stud that will not give," said Luther.
Residents say another reason this neighborhood watch program works is it brings neighbors closer together.
"I think everyone feels a lot more secure and I think one of the reasons is it's given us a chance to know our neighbors on a different level," said Kimberly White Erlinger, a Barton Hills resident.
Residents here who take part in the neighborhood watch and patrol program want to stress they only report, they don't enforce. They let the police handle any suspicious activity and they credit APD with teaching them how to keep a better watch over their neighborhood.
