Macon neighborhood association concerned about increase in crime

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Several Macon residents are concerned about a rise in crime in their neighborhood.

Drivers’ speeding down neighborhood roads aren’t the only thing residents in the Ingleside community are worried about. They’re worried about thieves. 

“The scary thing about that is somebody breaking into your home. That’s very worrisome,” Bill Fickling, the chair for Ingleside Neighborhood Association, said. 

Neighbors in the area say crime is up and they want to see it come down. 

“In 2010, the neighborhood association decided to hire an off-duty patrol, still a sheriff deputy, but a off-duty patrol to come into the neighborhood,” Fickling said. 

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office reports since June, there have been nearly 40 thefts and break-ins in the area. 

Charlie Snow had it happen to him a few months ago. 

“I said it’s in the driveway. She said no it’s not. So I went down and turns out the car was gone,” Snow said. 

He blames himself for leaving a door open at home — an easy target. 

“It’s disturbing to have anyone break into your house at all, but I think that was as we’ve termed it a crime of opportunity. That was my mistake,” Snow said. 

Sheriff David Davis says off-duty patrols are helping fill the gaps, giving neighborhoods an extra blanket of security throughout the day. 

“It’s sort of a win-win all the way around. The neighbors get a little extra patrol. The deputies get to work a little extra, make a little extra side job money,” Davis said. 

Residents say the move has helped in the past, and they hope having a deputy close by this time will bring the same results. 

“We have no choice but to try to secure the neighborhood. We’re all members of this community and very supportive of Macon. We want it to be a good place to live and we want our neighborhood to be a good place to live,” Snow said. 

The Ingleside Neighborhood Association asked neighbors to contribute $75 per household per quarter to help pay the deputies while they work. 

If you’d like some help on your street, call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500.