Alert neighbor program helps bring down crime in midtown

TULSA - Midtown residents are working together to fight back against crime.

Monday night, hundreds of residents, Tulsa police officers and city leaders gathered to discuss ways to be better neighbors and in turn bring down crime in Tulsa.

The Tulsa Midtown Alert Neighbors is the largest group like it in Tulsa and officials say they are setting an example other neighbors should be following.

Midtown resident, Blair Brockman, says she's put her alert neighbor training to good use as recently as Saturday, when one of her neighbors' alarms went off.

"When the police came we were able to tell them, hey I am the captain for alert neighbors, they're going yes, the program works," said Brockman.

She was able to give officers valuable information for her neighbor, who happened to be out of town.
    
Monday night marked the first annual meeting for Tulsa Midtown Alert Neighbors.

The group formed last year after a string of robberies, police say since then crime has gone down.

"The way they're sharing information about crime, the way they're sharing information about suspicious people in the area, they're really watching out for each other," said Tulsa Police Chief, Chuck Jordan.

Carol bush, the executive director of the Crime Commission, she credits the group's willingness.

She points to their methods when others are interested in starting an alert neighbor program.  

"In getting the word out, with their iPhones or their smart phones, taking those pictures, uploading them, I've got neighborhood groups all over town that go to this Facebook page to get real time information," said Bush.

Monday's meeting was to help reinforce the current momentum and reach out to new neighbors.

"I though it was great, lots of good ideas, I'm ready to sign up," said midtown resident, Elizabeth Crews.

"It's gone down because we've gotten after it, it starts with the citizen, it starts with citizenship and ownership," said Brockman.

If would like to form an alert neighbor program or if you would like to find out about one that may already exist in your neighborhood you can call the Crime Commission at (918) 585- 5209 or click here.