Wallaceburg Retirement Residence – Morning Coffee

Weather forecast for Wednesday, July 4, 2018

A heat warning continues across Chatham-Kent.

Today – Sunny this morning then a mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers this afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon. High 33. Humidex 43. UV index 10 or very high.

Tonight – Partly cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers early this evening and risk of a thunderstorm. Clearing this evening. Low 23.

Neighbourhood Watch meeting planned in Wallaceburg

A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening to discuss the possibility of revamping the Neighbourhood Watch group in Wallaceburg.

The meeting is being held at 6:30 p.m. at Contact North, 1416 Dufferin Ave. in Wallaceburg.

Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

The Sydenham Current published a few stories last year about the concept of bringing Neighbourhood Watch back to Wallaceburg.

Even without an active Neighbourhood Watch group in the community, the Chatham-Kent Police Service said the concept is still alive and vitally important in Wallaceburg.

The notion of the program was brought up in the community in May of 2017 after a rash of incidents of mischief, theft, break-and-enters and vandalism in Wallaceburg.

Based on feedback received, the Sydenham Current posted a poll question asking if a Neighbourhood Watch group was needed in Wallaceburg.

The results showed that 92.09% of the votes, or 128 out of 139 people, said a group was needed in the community. A total of 4.32% (6 votes) said a group wasn’t needed and 3.59% (5 votes) were undecided.

Special Const. Randi Hull of the Chatham-Kent Police Service told the Sydenham Current Neighbourhood Watch is a program that is often reactive based.

“So whenever something happens such as this community uproar we have from all of our vandalism and thefts and things like that, people are very concerned about their personal belongings at that point in the game,” Hull said.

“Nobody wants to be a victim, so that is often when we get the outcry of people wanting to do something in the neighbourhoods which is fabulous, but the sustainability is the key that we are looking at here. Often with Neighbourhood Watch, once the crime rate decreases, then people start to lose interest because there is nothing really happening.”

A Neighbourhood Watch group has existed in Wallaceburg for a number of years, but folded a few years ago due to lack of engagement and interest, Hull said.

Many people in different communities say a formalized Neighbourhood Watch group isn’t necessary, as they are already watching out for their neighbours’ property, Hull said.

Const. Kelly Helbin, the public information officer for the Chatham-Kent Police Service at the time, agreed.

Helbin told the Sydenham Current that neighbours don’t need to be part of a group to watch out in the streets and come forward to police.

“I watch out for my neighbours. They watch out for me. We don’t have to be a part of anything to be able to do that within our community,” she said.

“We have a small community and we do, for the most part, stick together. We have so many avenues now that if people want to remain anonymous, they can. Through Crime Stoppers, even me checking the Chatham-Kent Police Service Facebook page. We understand that some people aren’t comfortable calling the police but we make it easy for people that they don’t necessarily have to call anymore.”

Hull said “a rash of victimization” in the community can often spark community interest.

“People are now responding to that negativity where prior to that unfortunately that’s the reason why Neighbourhood Watch wasn’t still going, because we didn’t have those bodies that were stepping forward. Life is busy and believe me, I am the last one that wants to step up and go to another meeting. I get that, but again that’s where it comes back to that Neighbourhood Watch is happening in our community without being formalized. It’s just coming back to sharing with your neighbours. You might not think it’s a big deal that your neighbour cares that your garage might have been entered last night, or you suspect it might, but maybe they saw something that you didn’t. It’s taking that time and talking with people.”

Watch for coverage on Wednesday’s meeting on the Sydenham Current.