News 12, July 16, 2010

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. -- Aiken County deputies and the bloodhounds have been busy the past few weeks. With two home invasions this week and several other burglaries and car break-ins throughout the county, Investigators work hard to track the criminals.

Deputies say establishing a Neighborhood Watch can help protect you and your family from break-ins like these. Aiken County's Neighborhood Watch is through the Sheriff's office. Some may think that Neighborhood Watch is only for big subdivisions, but if you are interested in keeping your area safer you can sign your street up no matter how few houses are around.

Just know that a successful program does take commitment from the whole community.

Lynn Chorich has felt safe in her Aiken home for more than twenty years- until it was burglarized a few months ago. "It was really unsettling even after the fact. You feel like, oh no! This is my home." Lynn talked to her neighbors about joining Aiken County's Neighborhood Watch.

"[The burglary] was just so unexpected, and I got talking to the other neighbors just to warn them. We all sort of thought [Neighborhood Watch] is a good idea." But she says she never realized just how great the program would be.

She got eleven of the twelve families in Appaloosa neighborhood to sign up. "The police have said 'Don't assume someone else is going to call- if you see something else- you just call!'"

Sgt. Nancy Kieltsch is one of two community officers for Aiken County. One of her many assignments is to follow up with the twenty one neighborhoods in the Watch program. She says if she she were a burglar and saw the Watch signs, she'd realize "This community has it together- this community- they're looking out for each other. And our signs do say if i dont call, my neighbor will."

Nancy says Neighborhood Watch has helped with a recent drug bust, too, after a block captain called in. "Within an hour, with the help of a Narcotics unit, we made one arrest, confiscated some marajuana, and the case is currently pending. And that's because somebody in that community was alert, was watching,was concerned, and said something's not quite right."

Rose and Arnel Wise live across from Lynn Chorich. They say their Neighborhood Watch signs have cut down on suspicious cars and strangers in Appaloosa. "I think people see the signs and say well...There might be somebody watching. Better not do that!"

Lynn says the program is not only keeping out crime but also bringing the community closer. "We are just closer and talk more and we have phone numbers now and emails." She says their first Watch signs were torn down, but they were not discouraged. She and her neighbors cemented in even more. They are trying to show that their crime-free neighborhood is permanent.

Neighborhood Watches have been in Aiken County for at least seven or eight years, according to Kieltsch. They've been around the United States since 1972. To set up a Neighborhood Watch program in your area, call The community officers at the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at 803-593-9954 extension 1320.