Recent break-ins spur interest in Hollister Neighborhood Watch program

Residential break-ins are causing residents in one Central Coast city to promote new neighborhood watch groups. Even though Hollister Police Chief Dave Westrick said crime levels aren’t any higher than last year, he’s calling for residents to organize and keep an eye out. On Monday, NewsChannel 5 went to Hollister to find out how the city plans to help neighborhoods fight crime.

The idea is that the police department can’t fight crime alone. Westrick said the city needs residents to also keep an eye out for one another.

“I don’t think that this is a bedroom community. I think that a lot more people stop and talk to each other. I mean we know and talk to most of our neighbors so we know what’s going on,” said resident Amanda Kennison.

A bedroom community means neighbors keep to themselves. In Hollister that couldn’t be further from the truth. The city of Hollister said some residents are banding together, as nearly eight different groups have started sharing information within the past year.

“That you get to meet your neighbors, that it brings the community a little closer with the added benefit of helping us in law enforcement be our eyes and ears out there,” Westrick said.

Sequoia Court in Hollister has a neighborhood watch group, after one house was broken into. Residents said it’s made a difference. They haven’t had any break-ins since. Residents concerned about break-ins are sharing what they see on Facebook. Westrick said while social media plays an important role, reporting the information to police and having a neighborhood watch group, can help actually reduce crime on the streets. He said people are becoming more aware of their surroundings, but that doesn’t mean there’s more crime.

“Isn’t any higher really. It’s, we are seeing a little bit more of the car break-ins, maybe some more of the residential things. But overall, throughout this year there really isn’t any more than last year,” Westrick said.

Councilmember Victor Gomez said there’s a few watch groups in his district. But he hopes parts of Sunnyslope Village will come together and form groups.

“It’s definitely brought a lot of things to the surface that we weren’t necessarily aware of. But it’s good, you know it’s good to get all of that information out,” Gomez said.

Gomez calls Sunnyslope Village a “bedroom community”, while some residents I spoke think they’re doing a good job of looking out for one another, without help from an organized group.

If you’d like to start your own neighborhood watch group, the Hollister Police Department has a starter packet you can download to get the ball rolling.