TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - A majoreffort is underway to curb crime committed by kids and teens in our area. With temperatureswarming up and the end of the school year drawing near, folks in one neighborhoodare hoping to work with police to help delinquent juveniles.
"Walkingup and down the middle of the street, harassing the neighbors, breaking in andout of the houses, jumping on the cars," complained Sandra Lewis of Toledo.
Residentssay they think it's only going to get worse as we inch closer to summer.
"Whenschools out the park is open all the time so yeah, It's going to be a roughsummer," said Lewis.
But onTuesday night, residents in the Willys Parkway neighborhood came together to beproactive. They met with community service officers, a city council member andjuvenile justice leaders to answer one question.
"What canwe do about the juveniles out there breaking the curfew and disrespecting theneighborhood?" asked Block Watch Leader Tina Scott.
The groupbrainstormed ideas and spent time learning about the city's effort to mentorand work with children and teens causing problems; to change their path rather than sending themstraight to the justice system.
Toledo Policehave several mentoring programs in place. Residents are hoping those programsalong with close communication with police can help cut down on some of theproblems.
