Crime watch forms in Pringle

PRINGLE – It was 56-year-old Connie Kostelac’s idea to start a crime watch group in her community.

Kostelac, a borough resident who held a meeting Tuesday evening about forming a group, said police can’t be everywhere in her small town, which borders Kingston. About 60 residents attended the meeting.

“We need eyes and ears of people who live in the town,” said Kostelac who has seen a rash of property crimes in recent months.

A crime watch was formed a couple years ago, but people weren’t showing up, according to Kostelac, who invited Charlotte Raup, president of Wilkes-Barre’s Crime Watch Coalition, to speak at the meeting.

Raup, who most recently has formed crime watches in Plains Township and Old Forge, spoke about the functions of a crime watch.

“Crime watch is about prevention. It is about preventing crime,” said Raup, who also is the head of the Parsons’ crime watch in Wilkes-Barre. “Crime can happen anywhere to anybody.”

Raup said it is important to have law enforcement speakers attend meetings, but she also stressed that the key to operating a successful neighborhood watch is discussion about crime and how residents can work with the police.

Crime watchers in Wilkes-Barre visit the city’s police department once a month to compile a list of incidents, which is then shared at meetings.

Ninety percent of crime is caused by drugs, Raup said. “If you see a house with a lot of activity going on, report it to the police,” she said.

Borough resident Kenneth Barto said the community should get involved in forming a crime watch because he has personally noticed a rise in crime, locally.