PLAGUED with a string of robberies and break-ins, residents of Morris Meadows in St Catherine have launched a neighbourhood watch to protect themselves against intruders. The residents are also hoping that as a single unit they will forge a stronger relationship with the police.

Dozens of residents turned out for the launch on Sunday which was also attended by senior police personnel from the division, as well as Security Minister Dwight Nelson.

“Over the past few years we have had a series of robberies and break-ins, and it has been panicking to residents who leave out here early in the morning and return home late in the evening to find that their place has been broken into,” said Dave Kelly, vice-president of the Morris Meadows Citizens’ Association.

“So we decided that we need to become more active in making the community a model community in terms of security… We want to have greater collaboration between residents and the police. We want to see their (police) presence here more, as well as a greater level of interaction between them and members of the community,” he continued.

While Kelly could not give a specific number, he said that several homes have been broken into since the community was constructed five years ago.

According to one resident, the in the latest break-in occurred about two months ago when the thieves removed almost all the furniture from a house after its owners had left for a visit abroad.

They fled the scene in a truck, the residents said.

“That is why we want the police to come in and get to know the residents. We don’t want them to feel like strangers. We want to know them so that when we call them we know exactly who we are speaking to,” Kelly said.

On Sunday, Nelson lauded the residents’ initiative.

“As a neighbourhood watch you must be prepared to work with the police. A lot of crimes are committed in the spur of the moment, they are opportunistic, and one of your responsibilities as a neighbourhood watch is to ensure that your members protect themselves,” he said.

Nelson also urged residents to lobby their member of Parliament, Fitz Jackson, to increase the number of streetlights in the community.