THOUSAND OAKS : New Watch Program to Help Fight Crime

Residents of the Las Casitas community in Thousand Oaks will take another step to combat crime this weekend by launching a new Neighborhood Watch program.

The property managers will throw a kick-off party Saturday for the new program in hopes of signing up residents to patrol their streets for crime.

“We’ve had some problems with crime in the past, so this is an attempt to emphasize involvement in crime prevention,” said Dawn Kuehn, a property manager. “We want to have neighbors looking out for neighbors so we can nip things in the bud.”

In their effort to reduce crime in the area, Las Casitas homeowners groups have already installed new lighting, tightened restrictions on overnight parking, and erected a fence around a flood control channel.

Sheriff’s officials have credited the steps for some reduction of crime in the neighborhood.

Still, the area has not managed to eradicate crime entirely. Most recently, a 16-year-old girl was shot and killed by a friend in a Las Casitas condominium.

But Kuehn said she is optimistic that the Neighborhood Watch will help further reduce crime there.

Saturday’s event--which will include food, entertainment and door prizes--will be highlighted by presentations from Ventura County sheriff’s crime prevention experts.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. near the corner of Hillcrest Drive and Avenida De La Plata.