Norfolk, Va. - A string of burglaries and acts of vandalism has caused neighbors in the Granby Shores area of Norfolk to take action against crime.
According to Norfolk Police, since July, there have been 12 reported vandalism acts and eight burglaries. Amanda Bell was one of those people.
"I've never had this feeling of being violated before, I thought my neighborhood was safe."
After hearing about what Bell went through, Thomas Foreman, a friend of Bell's and a longtime Norfolk resident, took to Facebook to create a page for neighbors to update each other on criminal activity.
"Bayview isn't as bad as other neighborhoods, but we want to keep it that way," Foreman explained.
The page, Bayview Neighborhood Crime Watch, quickly gained a following. Within two weeks, nearly 450 neighbors joined the page. Now Foreman is taking action away from the computer and joining forces with the Norfolk Police Department by organizing a Neighborhood Watch group.
"It's about the community coming together. I may have started it, but I would really love to see it evolve into what it can."
Although the group is only in its beginning stages, the neighborhood is already sending a clear message to criminals eyeing their neighborhood.
