In the Central valley thoughts of neighborhood watch are still on people's minds two weeks after the George Zimmerman verdict. A neighborhood in orange cove has just created one and as CBS47s Joe Ybarra shows us, organizers say they has just created one
Organizers say they simply wanted to build a stronger community. Roy Bravo has lived in Orange Cove his whole life. He bought this home 2 years ago, back then he says the neighborhood was rough.
"it was getting pretty bad, people breaking into my backyard. I couldn't leave anything out here, I had my Christmas lights stolen during Christmas time."
Bravo recently joined the neighborhood watch around the same time George Zimmerman was on trial. He says it was just a coincidence and he just wanted to make a difference.
"you don't want to take the law into your own hands but that's why it would be better to be more involved with the police department and not take it into your own hands."
Gloria Chave is with Monte Vista Homes, the company behind this neighborhood watch. She says police educate home owners creating awareness and a stronger community but she says it's not just about crime fighting
"Educating the home owners how to take care of their community so the value of their homes will stay up and not go down."
bravo says it's working. He says crime has gone down, police are patrolling more often, and a drug dealer down the street just moved out, a big difference from 2 years ago.
Organizers say they simply wanted to build a stronger community. Roy Bravo has lived in Orange Cove his whole life. He bought this home 2 years ago, back then he says the neighborhood was rough.
"it was getting pretty bad, people breaking into my backyard. I couldn't leave anything out here, I had my Christmas lights stolen during Christmas time."
Bravo recently joined the neighborhood watch around the same time George Zimmerman was on trial. He says it was just a coincidence and he just wanted to make a difference.
"you don't want to take the law into your own hands but that's why it would be better to be more involved with the police department and not take it into your own hands."
Gloria Chave is with Monte Vista Homes, the company behind this neighborhood watch. She says police educate home owners creating awareness and a stronger community but she says it's not just about crime fighting
"Educating the home owners how to take care of their community so the value of their homes will stay up and not go down."
bravo says it's working. He says crime has gone down, police are patrolling more often, and a drug dealer down the street just moved out, a big difference from 2 years ago.