MEDICAL LAKE, Wash.-- Medical Lake is a community riddled with crime, according to neighbors.
Between vandalism, break-ins and car prowls, they say it’s enough.
Many of them have joined neighborhood watch programs because of skyrocketing crime rates.
The sheriff’s office reports more than a dozen calls of theft, car prowls and burglaries over the past two weeks. Everything from bikes to motorcycles have been taken.
Residents say they are doing everything they can to keep criminals off the streets.
One neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, says they are all banding together to stop the problem.
“Everybody in this community knows each other, so everybody is sticking together, looking out for each other. [We are] making sure everything is locked up, lights are going on, everybody has everybody’s phone number. If they see something, they just come out and confront, or call everybody to come help.”
That neighbor just moved to Medical Lake from Spokane a week ago. Ironically, he says he moved to escape crime in the city.
He says neighbors stay awake until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning keeping an eye out for thieves.
Some speculate teens are responsible for the trouble, while others say it’s people on drugs breaking into other people’s property for cash. None of that information has been confirmed by police.
