Cicero (WSYR-TV) - After a string of thefts from unlocked vehicles and garages in Cicero, police are warning homeowners that this is the time of year when those larcenies increase. They're also encouraging neighbors to pick up the phone and call if they see suspicious cars or people lurking in their neighborhood.
Brewerton resident Mark McGill likes to keep an eye on his neighborhood. When he's not watching, his cameras are. McGill invested in a surveillance system for his home and says it has paid off. He's caught everything from young pumpkin smashers to trespassers and teens damaging property.
He also doesn't hesitate to call police when he sees or hears something suspicious. That is the habit that police would like other neighbors to develop.
In one example, McGill called 911 after seeing a fight. Cops were able to make a quick arrest. "Banging on signs, criminal mischief, looking in people cars, one kid got hit, 2:30 in the morning, a kid got hit," he said.
That's just the kind of neighborhood support Cicero Police Chief Joe Snell says his officers need. "We need to check it out. What happens a lot of times is, we don't get the call until the next day, and that's after the crime ocurred," he said.
"I've found out, the faster you can notify them, the faster they can respond to catch them," McGill said.
"If they do call, they can request that the police do not stop at their house. Their information is confidential. They don't have to have their name released, they don't have to be involved, we just need to know what's happening," Chief Snell said.
If and when you do make that phone call, try to give good details and descriptions. For example, try to write down the make, model or license plate number of a suspicious vehicle.
Police say no caller should every feel as if they're being a bother. They want everyone to help fight crime.
