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Detroiters Texting Toward A Safer Neighborhood

DETROIT (WWJ) - Some Detroit neighborhoods are responding to the recent rash of crime by bolstering community groups.

In Hubbard Farms in southwest Detroit, resident Robert Anderson founded his neighborhood's text alert system last year.

Anderson said 40 neighbors have signed up for the service.

"We let the neighborhood know that we had this system that was kicking in and if anyone wanted to belong to it just to send me their cell number and I'd sign them up and put it in," Anderson told WWJ Newsradio 950's Marie Osborne.

Anderson said almost immediately, a neighbor out walking when he saw something unsavory and sent a text.

"He saw a fellow, who was walking in front of him, just pick up a brick and toss it through somebody's picture window," Anderson said. "I was home at the time. I ran out of the house. I saw him I grabbed my camera and took a picture, which we were then able to share with the police."

Police were able to identify the suspect and he was arrested.

Since that time, nearly a dozen police situations received early intervention by neighbors.

The system is free. Anderson says in the last few months, crime in the area has been down.

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