SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Crimetracker reveals local areas who have made positive progress and others that are heading in a negative direction.
Drive-by shootings, car-jackings, drug trafficking and even murders were almost monthly occurrences at Rose Park a few months ago. But today, quiet peaceful walks and a crime-free neighborhood are what you can find near 1386 Redwood Road in Salt Lake City.
Residents who live near Rose Park say there were always people drinking beer and getting in fights with one another.
Now a new and safe Park, Salt Lake police detective Rick Wall credits the vibrant neighborhood watch program that started about two years ago.
“When they do get involved and then they see the results of that and the positive impact it has and the quality of life improves and crime really does go down, then they're happy with that” says Wall.
“Here in the park itself, not a single crime reported of any kind within the past 60 days. Not here at the playground where parents now feel safe bringing their kids to play, not in the nearby neighborhood not even in the adjacent skate park, normally a magnet for gang bangers.”
In a Murray neighborhood however, things are changing for the worse.
Long-time residents like Mary Ann Swallberg and Betty Blank say for the first time in 35 to 40 years, they fear for their property and their safety.
"The element is not good, a lot of trashy stuff is going on and that really concerns us because this has always been a really good neighborhood” said Swallberg.
Crimetracker shows eight thefts, four assaults, three auto burglaries, three sexual assaults, two breaking and enterings and one stolen vehicle in the past sixty days within one mile of the neighborhood.
What used to be a quiet little farming community is now getting the crime from State Street and nearby apartment complexes spilling into the neighborhood.
A few residents have asked the city for help and tried to rally neighbors to start a watch program.
In the meantime, the problem continues.
A Taylorsville community made the decision already to start a watch program, and it has paid off.
Crimetracker found eight burglaries, one home invasion, six public disturbances, two thefts and one car burglary in the past sixty days within one mile of this neighborhood.
Last week, these neighbors took action.
"That's exactly what we want to see. That tells us a lot that they want to help their community and they want to get involved and they want to help us do our jobs."
Nightly patrols and constant communication with Taylorsville police will flush crime out of that community. Hopefully the community in Murray can have the same success.
You can see what crime is happening where you live.
Just click on the Crimetracker tab on the left hand side of the home page. Or head there now by clicking below:
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/crimetracker/default.aspx
