18 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER April 2022
‘ WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY ’
Wilsonville groups boost vigilance to prevent , respond to crime incidents
BY COREY BUCHANAN
Due to recent criminal activity in Wilsonville , neighborhoods are taking steps to improve coordination as a way to prevent and respond to illegal behavior .
Charbonneau Country Club is starting a Neighborhood Watch program , while local homeowners associations in Villebois and Morey ’ s Landing recently met with Mayor Julie Fitzgerald and Police Chief Rob Wurpes to discuss ways they can better protect themselves .
The neighborhood representatives that Pamplin Media Group chatted with did not express extreme alarm about criminal activity in the community , and overall crime data the Wilsonville Police Department provides does not definitively show a sharp uptick ( the 12-month average for thefts was higher in 2018 than 2020 and 2021 ).
However , the major catalyst for this emphasis occurred two months ago when 16 car tires in the Villebois community were slashed . Wurpes mentioned in a recent Boones Ferry Messenger article that an increase in petty thefts has led the department to bolster patrols where criminal activity is occurring .
“ Since we hadn ’ t really had any incidents of that kind in the time a lot of us lived here , it got everyone ’ s attention ,” said Rod Boucher of the Arbor Villebois Homeowners Association . “ By the time we got done , we had 10 HOAs that were interested in looking at the problem and the whole picture of security in the neighborhood .”
Along with more patrols from the police , Boucher said residents are starting to consider implementing more security cameras in places that currently are not covered , such as back alleys .
“ It turned out our most vulnerable spots were probably the least
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• Cleanings covered ,” he said . “ This neighborhood has most of its garages in alleyways behind the houses . Those alleyways didn ’ t get a whole lot of attention . People have been adding extra cameras on the back side of their houses and making sure lighting works .”
They ’ ve also started more communication between neighbors about avoiding potential security risks such as leaving a garage door open and reporting to the police when they see suspicious people walking in the neighborhood . Jeanne Danielson , the president of Grand Pointe at Villebois , said speeding cars on Grahams Ferry Road and “ porch pirates ” have been a steady cause for concern in her area . She also said that they ’ ve seen teenagers survey the neighborhood in the middle of the night .
“ We ’ ve been on the lookout for that . All the neighborhoods are aware and spread information via
PMG PHOTO : COREY BUCHANAN
Matt Constantine , Dennis Thayer , Robin Shaffer , LouAnn RondorfKlym , Kathleen Constantine , Rod Boucher and Valorie Boucher are working on crime prevention at the Arbor Villebois Homeowner ‘ s Association .
email and Facebook ,” she said . The Park at Merryfield area has not experienced significant instances of crime , but homeowners association board member Michael Longacre said they ’ re implementing similar measures as a preventative step .
“ It ’ s not really a problem for us , but that doesn ’ t mean it couldn ’ t be and maybe we should look at potential ways of preventing it ,” he said .
Along with forming a Neighborhood Watch in his own neighborhood , Longacre said many associations within Wilsonville are looking at forming an alliance to
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