Crime watch group forms

Meadow Brook neighbors unite

March 14, 2006

MARY AMES/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - Neighbors concerned with a rash of burglaries came together Sunday afternoon, taking steps to organize against the crimes, large and small, that threaten to destroy the American Dream character of their new subdivision.

People from more than 135 households in Meadow Brook, an area south of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and east of Hyer Road, crowded into a Mat-Su public safety building to form a Neighborhood Watch.

Although her home is one that hasn't been burglarized, Cindy Goodwin started organizing after she noticed a dark-blue Ford Expedition that seemed to be scouting houses late one night. The Ford was cruising slowly, back and forth, she said, and then headed toward a particular house.

&#8220I called the troopers because I didn't have that neighbor's phone number,” said Goodwin, who moved from Anchorage about two years ago. &#8220The next morning, I just got p—— off. This is crazy. Why should we live like this? I decided we need a Neighborhood Watch.”

Nancy Taylor, citizen corp. coordinator with the Mat-Su Borough, needed a head count of the people who might be interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch, Goodwin said.

&#8220My sons and I went door to door to more than 100 houses,” Goodwin said. &#8220My friend Karen went to about 60.” In the process, Goodwin found more neighbors who identified a white four-door Toyota 4Runner that had been cruising the streets at night, pulling in driveways and speeding off the few times a homeowner confronted the four people inside.

Taylor told the standing-room-only crowd that they showed a great commitment to being part of a community.

&#8220We've gotten used to saying, ‘hood,'” Taylor said. &#8220Organizing will increase the quality of life and put ‘neighbor' back in neighborhood. Statistically, one in 12 homes will be burglarized in areas with no Neighborhood Watch.”

While no one likes snoops, Taylor said, 200 people who know who belongs in the area and who doesn't can help thwart crime by providing more eyes at different angles, watching any suspicious activity.

Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Robert French acknowledged the frustration people feel about the delayed response time when they call for help.

&#8220On any given shift there are five patrol troopers from Glennallen to Talkeetna,” French said. &#8220Each one of them has about 50 to 60 pending cases, on average. We have to prioritize on public safety. If there is an assault or a domestic-violence situation in progress, that's a first response. We want to be there, we just can't always.”

Neighborhood Watch is getting people to function as a unit, Taylor said, and it doesn't have to be formal.

&#8220Meet occasionally, encourage block parties and set goals,” Taylor said. &#8220Know who belongs at a house, know which vehicles belong there. Is anyone home where that strange vehicle pulled into the driveway? It's really up to you guys. Crime feeds on apathy.”

One man offered to snowplow for people who will be gone for a while, another offered to build a Web site for the neighborhood, Goodwin said after the meeting. And Meadow Brook is going to organize with street captains, she said.

&#8220I really feel like it's a closer neighborhood now, even after just one meeting,” she said. &#8220I was surprised and happy. We accomplished a lot just by meeting.”

Contact Mary Ames at

352-2284 or mary.ames@

frontiersman.com.