JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Behind the front porch flags and blooming magnolias of a South Jackson neighborhood is a list, a long one. It starts at the corner of Lakewood Drive and Woodburn Street, to the corner of Woodburn and Woody Drive, then down to the corner of Woody and Lakewood Drive. Within that triangle of just seven streets, from March 2011 to March 2012, there's been nearly 1,100 calls to 911.
"It's a lot of trouble, night and day," said one resident.
The calls range from shootings, stabbings and burglaries to fights, assaults and vandalism, not to mention various disturbances.
"It's hard to believe it's come to this. It's hard to believe it," said a resident, who only wanted to be identified as Mary.
Mary made several of those calls, one of them back in February when she returned from the grocery store and found her home had been broken into.
"It was at twelve o'clock during the day and it happened in a 30 minute period," said Mary. "I never believed it would happen to me until it did."
Without a security system in place, thieves went through the house taking everything from jewelry and money, to canned food and clothing.
"I felt violated. I really felt violated when I walked through the house and saw the house was upside down," said Mary.
No arrests have been made and her belongings are still gone. She's lived in the neighborhood for decades and says over the last few years she's noticed her once peaceful neighborhood decrease in tranquility and increase in criminal activity.
"I'd be crazy to sit here and tell you it's alright," said Mary.
Mary's is just one of many stories. She says the neighborhood's sense of security has vanished as she and many of her neighbors now live in fear.
"I have been through it and it is awful. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. This is awful," said Mary.
Just driving through the neighborhood some residents were eager to talk about the problems but didn't want to speak publicly out of fear. They say police actually patrol the area pretty often, but even with police presence and neighborhood watch signs, it's not helping.
Those concerns were taken to police headquarters, but no one at JPD made themselves available for an interview to discuss what, if anything, is being done to help put a stop to criminal activity.
"These people are scared to death. They're scared to come out of their homes. They're scared to go anywhere. They think when they leave their stuff is going to be stolen and in most cases it is," said Patrick Saums, who works in security systems.
Saums is no stranger to the Jackson neighborhood. While his company has systems currently in place, Saums says it's not a guaranteed protection. In guarding yourself and your property, Saums says keep up with your surroundings, make sure your home is well lit and most importantly, know the folks around you.
"Make sure you know your neighbors. Get to know your neighbors so they can watch for you as well," said Saums.
For Mary, that's become her way of life. For the neighborhood to regain its sense of protection, Saums says police need to do more than just patrol, they need to get to know the residents, not as a statistic, but as a person.
From there the solution becomes much larger.
"Not just one thing is going to solve the problem. It takes everybody's efforts, including the city and the county, the people in the neighborhood working together to solve the problem," said Saums.
In the meantime, folks like Mary continue to lock the doors, wondering, not if, but when, another call to 911 will happen.
"You keep your eyes open. You go to bed with a prayer on your heart asking for protection," said Mary.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
