Brandon Twp – Partnered with locking her door at night, Elizabeth Babour, mother of two children ages 2 and 4, now keeps a cast iron skillet handy.
Since June 2, more than 23 car larcenies and home invasions have occurred in Sashabaw Meadows and Clarkston Lakes Estates, and residents are nervous. Clarkston Lakes and Sashabaw Meadows are a conjoined modular community with more than 1,000 homes, located on Sashabaw Road in Brandon Township.
Elizabeth Babour, 25, a resident of the manufactured home community for the last 10 years is scared following recent rash of crimes.
‘The number of crimes seem to be increasing,? said Babour.
‘We’ve not had a lot problems over the years but it just seems to get worse all the time.?
Babour, says now she has a car alarm and keeps the doors and windows locked all the times. She added that while dogs are allowed in the community, leaving them outside over night is not allowed.
‘The dogs would help make a difference,? she said. ‘I keep an iron skillet by the door just in case anyone tries to come in.?
After cell phones were stolen from her car, Cheryl Olson, a four year Butternut Street resident is nervous too, even though she knows a neighbor keeps an eye on her home.
‘It’s unsettling to have that happen after living here for four years because I’ve never had any problems before,? said Olson.
‘They trashed my car, took the face plate off the radio, and tore the glove box and console apart.?
Rusty Pauly, Olson’s boyfriend also lost a cell phone, money, and a computer to auto larceny.
Pauly said he thinks kids are behind the larcenies, doing it for the adventure and the thrill.
‘I think they’re car hopping,? said Pauly
‘Just looking for loose, easy, and quick stuff.?
Although he is not living nervously, Pauly did say he would be willing to join his neighbors in watching out for each other.
Although he’s never heard about a Neighborhood Watch Program in the park, Pauly said he would be willing to help keep watch over the neighborhood.
Gordon Gross has been the manager of the Clarkston Lakes for more than 12 years. Gross said that residents have made several attempts over the years to have Neighborhood Watch program, but past programs have faded out.
‘If people are interested in starting a neighborhood watch come talk to us about starting one,? said Gross.
‘We’ve had them in the past but they fade out.?
‘We’ve cooperated (coordinating a watch) in the past by sending out letters and have had the police out here to instruct residents on how to watch the area,? he said.
Gordon said many of the neighbors already keep an eye out for each other, often times calling the managers office when they see suspicious activity within the park.
‘Generally, people are watching,? said Gross.
‘They call us if they see something unusual and we run right down there.?
Sgt. Tim McIssac of the Oakland County Sheriff Department, Brandon Substation said it takes dedication of the people who are home during the day to maintain a neighborhood watch, but good old fashioned watching out for neighbors is as effective.
‘Watch is what we used to do when we knew each other,? said McIssac.
McIssac said the home invasions are not being done by strangers but by neighbors. Stopping the home invasions is a difficult task, according to McIssac, because the perpetrators are waiting for the resident to leave the home and then they enter. Police indicate that in these particular cases the method of invasion indicates it is a person on foot, because most of the items taken are small.
In the cases of the auto larcenies, McIssac suspects the crimes are being committed by teens, stating crimes such as these, done during the night time hours, are typically done by someone of teenage years.
‘That’s not to say someone outside the area or a former resident is not responsible,? said McIssac.
‘Once again, it goes back to knowing your neighbor.? McIssac said.
To combat the larcenies the sheriff department is enforcing a curfew for children up to age 16, as well as stepping up the patrols in the area.