Published: October 18, 2009 11:41 pm      

Neighbors join to fight rural crime

Sheriff's department has Web site to keep Boyd residents informed

A series of criminal acts including daylight burglaries of homes and vehicles has caused residents of rural Boyd County areas to band together with Sheriff Terry Keelin to create a new method of keeping track of what’s happening around them.

Between 30 and 40 gathered at the East Fork Volunteer Fire Department Thursday evening to discuss the recent rash of thefts in areas including Bear Creek Road, Ky. 3, Bowling Drive, Foxboro Estates and Callihan Ridge.

“It has really been everybody south of I-64 and along Route 3 ... a large area,” Sheriff Keelin said Friday.

In response to community concerns, Keelin said his department’s Web site (www.boydcountysheriff.com) will soon include a tab for people to read about crime locations “in and around their area,” as well as information including suspect descriptions and suspicious vehicles of interest to investigators.

The Web site should be modified and available to local residents within a few days, the sheriff said.

“That will cover all of rural Boyd County from Westwood to Bolts Fork,” he noted.

Sheriff Keelin said the first meeting was definitely a success. He encouraged families to join him for another meeting at the fire department at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Such community and neighborhood meetings are of great assistance to local law enforcement, Keelin said, and provide officers an opportunity to inform residents of ways they can help prevent becoming crime victims.

“It gives us a chance to tell them about things they can do to better protect their property,” the sheriff said, explaining criminals tend to act when an opportunity is presented.

Residents of several rural communities in Boyd County have recently reported burglaries resulting in the theft of items including musical instruments, jewelry, family heirlooms, television sets and firearms.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.