South Toledo hires private security to keep eye on the area www.privateofficer.com
Toledo OH April 18 2012 More Toledoans take the extra step to fight crime. The Burrough’s neighborhood in South Toledo became the latest to hire private security to keep an eye on the area. Dozens at a meeting on Monday night said they’ve had enough with crime issues on their streets, and they decided to do something about it.
Without much hesitation, several residents said yes to move forward. They’ve hired Signal 88 Security. Soon, the company could be on the streets looking for suspicious activity. Sharon Huss, who’s lived in the area for 40 years says the problems only seem to be getting worse.
“We never used to keep our doors locked all the time. Now they’re locked all the time,” she said. “You go out in the yard, you have to lock the door behind you.”
That’s why, 6 patrols, 7 days a week by security officers, sounds like a good deal.
“I think what we’re here to do is to support and back up TPD,” owner of Signal 88 Security, Mario Bernardo said. “We’re just here to make it safe for everyone.”
Signal 88 also provides service for other Toledo neighborhoods. Most recently, the Arlington neighborhood, also in South Toledo, made the same decision. And so far, “it seems like what we’ve been doing there has really been working very well,” Bernardo said. “A lot of the activity is being pushed outside of those neighborhoods.”
Each house will pay $65 a year, but many say it’s worth it to keep their families and their neighborhoods safe.
Signal 88 guards are armed but cannot make arrests. The Burrough’s neighborhood needs 350 homes to participate.
