In order to combat a series of thefts and break-ins in the Grassy Meadows area of Greenbrier County, concerned citizens have pulled together to form a neighborhood watch program.
The effort to organize the neighborhood watch program is being led by homeowners Trish Hutsenpiller, Rhonda Harper, Sherral Nickell and Donna Cadle-Witt. Over 30 concerned citizens met last week for the first time at the Cadle Farm to discuss how to start a neighborhood watch program.
Cadle-Witt said that there have been over nine instances of break-ins in the area in the last year alone. “I think we are all angry that our lives had to change because of these thefts,” Cadle-Witt said. “Now we want to stand up and let it be known that we are not going to take it anymore.”
Organizers called Greenbrier County Sheriff Jan Cahill on how to organize a neighborhood watch program. Sheriff Cahill asked Sgt. Deputy Kevin Sawyers to attend the Cadle Farm meeting and to help answer questions. Cahill also asked a member of the West Virginia State Police, Trooper Chris Teubert, to attend. Teubert is stationed at the Rainelle detachment.
Sawyers said he will be in contact with the state in order to erect signs denoting the areas of the neighborhood watch. Organizers described the areas as Grassy Meadows, Smoot and Dawson.
Sawyers said everyone involved should have each other’s cell and home phone numbers and contact information so that if a suspicious vehicle is seen, everyone can be notified. A plan to develop citizen patrols was also discussed.
Cadle-Witt said the rural area makes it difficult for law enforcement to catch break-ins in the act, and the support and participation of everyone is needed.
“We are also hoping that the surrounding communities will see what we are doing and join us in forming their own neighborhood watch programs,” she said.
There will be another meeting of the Neighborhood Watch on June 19 at the Cadle Farm at 7 p.m. Officers will be elected at this meeting.
For more information on how to help, contact Donna Cadle-Witt at 304-661-4900 or email dwittva@aol.com.
