INDIANAPOLIS — Even as Indianapolis deals with high violent crime numbers, there is a silver lining.
One northeast side neighborhood just marked another annual milestone of keeping crime down and criminals out.
Darico Reed and his family live in Castleton Estates. Nothing is more important to Reed than keeping his daughter safe and sound at home. They are one of more than 300 families who live in this Castleton neighborhood.
After an evening swim at the subdivision’s pool, Reed talked with 13News at the neighborhood clubhouse, where security cameras are always watching.
May 31 marked seven years since Castleton Estates has had a home burglary. It's almost unheard of for a neighborhood of this size. The 327 homes have several crime watch blocks, with captains responsible for reaching out to homeowners.
Feeling safe is important to Reed and his family, and he said he has taught his daughter about stranger danger.
“She is never that far away from me,” Reed said. “It's a pretty good record. It's a good feeling, like hope almost."
The remarkable record over seven years is a credit to their hard work under the leadership of crime watch guru John Boggs.
“If you see something, say something, that's our motto,” said Boggs. “We are not the police. If you see something, call 911 and let the police come out and do their job."
Boggs has helped other neighborhoods beef up their crime watch programs, but it takes knowing almost everyone living on your street. Even to this day and after seven successful years, Boggs stresses that surrounding neighborhoods should take note.
“There are over 500 burglaries within two miles of our clubhouse. Crime is happening. It's just not happening in our neighborhood," Boggs said.
Boggs believes the pandemic has had an impact on their neighborhood because more people are working from home. It has put even more eyes and ears in Castleton Estates to report suspicious activity.
“We have a home we can feel safe in and a neighborhood to call home, and that's what America should be,” said Reed.