ARDMORE, Pa. – A push to crack down on crime in a Philadelphia suburb as police ask residents to be on alert after a sequence of home break-ins.
Dog house owners, some with pups in tow, obtained coaching from Lower Merion Township Police on how one can be an additional set of eyes and ears for police when out walking their furry relations.
“There are 75 million canine walkers within the nation. Most are out walking, their heads are down. They obtained their cellphone. They’re not essentially paying consideration,” President of Lower Merion Community Watch, Matt Preskin, stated.
The Lower Merion city watch is hoping to alter their habits and get canine walkers to assist preserve their neighborhood protected by changing into a part of the Dog Walker Watch. Officer Darien Swain says the highest tip is to be alert and pay attention to your environment.
“You know your neighborhood in all probability higher than we do, in a number of methods,” Officer Swain defined. “You know your neighbors, the vibe, the circulate of the neighborhood. If you see one thing that seems to be uncommon, positively name 911.”
“I do walk loads with the canine and also you do discover a number of issues if you find yourself walking round, so I assumed this was an fascinating idea,” Haverford resident, Bill Conrad, stated.
The assembly is well timed after a rash of break-ins in Lower Merion and surrounding townships. A motivating for neighbors in attendance.
“I heard about all of the burglaries within the neighborhoods,” Jonna McDougall stated. “I’m out with the canine on a regular basis and a few neighbors and I assumed it is perhaps an excellent factor. Learn to differentiate what’s legit and what’s not.”
Dog walkers are sometimes out in any respect completely different hours so they might see one thing suspicious which may in any other case go unnoticed.
“Hopefully, result in making some wanted arrests for dangerous guys who is perhaps surveilling neighborhoods,” Officer Swain acknowledged.
“I don’t know if I may be useful, but when I can, I’ll,” Conrad added.
For extra details about Dog Walker Watch, head to Lower Merion Community Watch.