The back door, which already had four sliding bolt locks, has been permanently shut by nailing one 2 x 4 to the top and one to the bottom of the frame. Brown also asked the city’s building inspector to meet with him, to get permission to board up windows in the house.
The house, which Brown rents out, was burglarized on Dec. 23. It was one of several homes in the Park Street neighborhood broken into during the last year.
Brown said he feared the burglaries could eventually lead to violence.
“Somebody’s on the verge of getting hurt the way it’s going,” Brown said. “That is what it’s going to lead up to if people keep breaking in these houses. We work too hard to try to improve stuff, to try to do something better in the community.”
Brown and other residents met with Mayor Sam Wright and Police Chief Louis Zook on Tuesday. Their meeting was part of an ongoing effort to control the crime outbreak in the area.
Zook said the police department has increased its patrols in the area and was working with residents to establish a neighborhood watch. He also said efforts are ongoing to improve the “quality of life” in the area.
Zook said the residents requested the meeting to voice their concerns and to ask what they could do to help.
“They requested assistance from the city and also offered their assistance, to work together and try to resolve some of the issues,” he said. “They are concerned about their neighborhood.”
Dwight Cook currently rents the house from Brown. Cook, a full-time college student, said the burglars took a TV and other items when he was not home.
He said he was concerned about the crime spreading not only through his neighborhood but others as well.
“Just because it doesn’t affect some people right now doesn’t mean that it won’t eventually,” Cook said.
Several people in the neighborhood said they believe the ones responsible for the break-ins live, or at least frequent, a nearby home. Some residents also believe the offenders are gang-related.
Sabrina McCain Strong, a resident of Park Street, sent a letter to Zook and Wright in November in an effort to coordinate the neighborhood watch. Strong stated in the letter neighbors should work with the city “to assure our safety and protection as citizens of Talladega County.”
“I am asking that all residents and concerned persons join with me to make our voices be heard,” she stated in the letter. “We will no longer stand for our homes to be burglarized nor will we continue to fear for our safety.”
Strong’s home has been burglarized twice, most recently on Nov. 11. According to the police incident report, the offenders forced their way into the home and took electronics and several pieces of jewelry, including two wedding ring sets.
Rev. Kenny Walker lives in the house across the street from Cook. He said his house was broken into once and another unsuccessful attempt was made later.
“When I come home, the first thing I do is walk to my back door and see if it has been kicked in,” Walker said. “That’s not a good feeling. I know how [the burglary victims] feel because I felt it too.”
Wright said the police department had his full support. He also asked people in the neighborhood to help by providing any information they can.
“When citizens feel like action needs to be taken, that’s part of what we need to do is jump in and see what can be done,” he said. “We are very concerned about anything like this.”
Brown said the meeting between residents and city officials was productive. He also said the police department was making a concerted effort to step up patrols in the neighborhood.
“It was a very good meeting,” Brown said. “We told them our issues and we shared information and went from there about the fear and intimidation in this general area. They broke into [my house] Wednesday between 2 and 10 [p.m.]. They wanted to kill the Christmas spirit but it didn’t.”
Anyone with information on these incidents can call the Sylacauga Police Department’s investigations division at 256-401-2464. Tips may also be reported anonymously to the police department’s tip line at 256-249-4716.
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