Eric Atalig, newly elected block captain of Susupe Village Neighborhood Watch Task Force, held a meeting on Tuesday at the village’s social hall to intensify their campaign against criminality.
This year’s second quarter, Susupe and Chalan Kanoa have the highest crime rate in Saipan, Atalig told the Variety.
He said since April this year, 10 cases of burglaries and thefts have been recorded.
“No suspects have been arrested yet,” he said, although the police were able to establish the pattern of the robbery period. “We believe they are only in one group.”
Police Sgt. Vicente H. Sablan, Neighborhood Watch Task Force chair, attributed the rise of criminality in Susupe and Chalan Kanoa to the “downfall of the economy which has caused some people to be desperate.”
Sablan said police visibility is important but due to limited manpower of the Department of Public Safety they have to assign police officers to strategic places.
However, he said, the strengthening of the Neighborhood Watch Task Force can help elevate the burden of the police in the enforcement of law.
“We will always coordinate to facilitate the use of police concept in bringing in volunteers, former police officers, Boy Scout and ROTC to come,” Sablan said.
Atalig said they recently conducted a survey to residents and “some felt they are no longer safe in their house.”
Most crimes happened on residential houses along the Beach Road areas in Susupe and Chalan Kanoa, he added.
“We must get community involvement,” he said, as he pointed out the vandalism and graffiti marked over the walls of the social hall where they conducted the meeting.
Saipan Municipal Council Vice chair Ramon B. Camacho, one of the prime movers of the task force that was created on 2007, said the neighborhood watch program should be applied with the revitalization undertakings in the villages.
“We need to have good neighbors. Cooperation and friendship are very important to maintain peace and order situation in our area,” he told residents.
