Crime Fighters May Get Free Cell Phones

Community crime fighters in cities across Ventura County may soon get a helping hand from a communications industry giant, with free cellular phones and air time.

Neighborhood Watch programs in Ventura, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks may qualify for the free phones and air time from AT&T; Wireless Services, company officials announced last week.

For the last year, Oxnard’s Neighborhood Watch has benefited from free cellular phone service, which gives members of the group instant access to the police when reporting a crime.

The phones have been used to report graffiti vandals and keep Neighborhood Watch volunteers in contact with police during patrols, company officials said.

For more information on AT&T;’s Cellular Community Watch, call 987-0955.