RESIDENTS of the upscale community of Cherry Gardens in St Andrew say they are concerned about a series of robberies that have been taking place in their area.

The attacks, they complained, include the robbery of persons doing their regular early-morning walks.

"In the past two to three months robbers have carried out at least five attacks against unsuspecting citizens," president of the Cherry Gardens Citizens' Association Ruel Gibson told the Jamaica Observer.

He was speaking at the Cherry Gardens Citizens' Association's monthly executive meeting in the community on Tuesday.

"To clamp down on this problem members of the Citizens' Association have been working closely with the police who have stepped up their presence in the community," said Gibson. The increased police patrols, he said, have resulted in a reduction in the attacks.

However, they were adamant that despite a reduction in the number of attacks they would not fall into a false sense of security, and would be rolling out a number of initiatives to deal with the crime problem, Gibson told the meeting.

He also spoke about plans to implement initiatives that association members hoped would incorporate greater level of integration among the residents and people in and around the community.

On Tuesday, evidence of those efforts were seen when the association members made an undisclosed cash donation to three institutions — the Maxfield Park Children's Home, Missionaries of the Poor and the Elim Basic School.

"The donations are part of efforts of the association members to reach out to the community and people in neighbouring areas," said Julie Burgher, treasurer of the citizens' association.

Burger said the money donation was raised from several fund-raising activities, and that the three organisations were selected from a list of several other organisations.