Crime Watch: South Bend neighbors on alert after string of break-ins - WSBT-TV

by Danielle Kennedy, WSBT 22 Reporter

SOUTH BEND — 

In Crime Watch, people in a South Bend neighborhood are on alert. Police are investigating a string of crimes.

Police arrested 50-year-old Mark Smith in connection with several thefts from cars and a burglary.

Neighbors want to prevent more crimes like this from happening.

Signs tell people that neighbors are watching out for each other. They're not just using their eyes.

They're using their phones to share what they see and hear. The app is called Nextdoor.

Some neighbors say they want go back to the old fashion way and talk face to face.

Police say Mark Smith is connected to four recent crimes across the city, including car and garage break-ins on North Shore and Cherry Tree Drive.

"He broke into the windows to get access to what was in the vehicles,” said South Bend Police Spokesperson, Ken Garcia.

Police say someone helped lead them to Smith. They found several stolen items in his car.

"It was everything from computers to backpacks to a generator,” Garcia said.

News of the thefts is troubling for people like Kendall Asbell. Someone broke into her home twice last year and took computers, iPads and a TV right off the wall.

"I think for people to be a little more vigilant. Having the app, a lot of people say something if they see something,” said Asbell.

"It started out with some cars getting broken into and then it kind of escalated a little bit to people's garages getting broken into during daylight hours,” said Marc Raybin.

Raybin says he's trying to organize neighbors to come together and talk about a plan for safety and security.

Police say there are already five neighborhood watch groups in the Northshore area, but Raybin wants to make sure everyone is on the same page.

"A lot of people are upset about it and instead of feeling victimized by this rash of crime, we can all stand up and push back against it in some way and work with police,” he said.

Police remind everyone not to leave valuable items in unlocked cars and say something if you see something.

"You'd be surprised how even the littlest piece of information can lead to an arrest,” Garcia said.

Police say they're investigating if Smith is connected to other thefts across the city. They're returning all stolen items back to owners.

Police were also invited to attend a neighborhood meeting Friday night at 5:30 at Nokomis Park.

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