Metro gives free face-lift to concealing shrubbery

Jace Radke

Friday, March 10, 2000 | 10:37 a.m.

For 45 years Toni Crawford has lived in the neighborhood near Bonanza Road and Eastern Avenue in a small house surrounded by a small forest of trees and bushes.

While nice for privacy the trees and shrubs that hide her home from the street have also provided a good hiding place for thieves who have victimized Crawford four times over the past two years.

On Saturday off-duty Metro Police officers and several student volunteers will cut away the limbs and leaves hiding Crawford's home as part of Metro's downtown substation's Operation Make A Difference.

The program was started by Officer Laurie Bisch about two years ago to help clean up neighborhoods and assist residents, especially senior citizens.

"The downtown area command has some older neighborhoods with a lot of elderly residents, and we were seeing too many of them becoming victims of crimes," Bisch said.

In the past the program has helped identify the need for new locks and other safety measures for senior citizen's homes, and even helped to rebuild a man's home that had fallen into decay after drug dealers moved in and trashed it.

Crawford, 82, met Bisch after one of the times her home was burglarized.

"I was home during some of the robberies, and other times I'd come home and find things missing," Crawford said. "Usually they'd take jewelry or money. It was very scary, but I'm very happy with the help I'm getting."

Crawford's house is surrounded by four large trees and six big juniper bushes that overhang her porch and block her windows. On her limited income and with her inability to do the necessary physical labor Crawford said she couldn't clear her yard herself, opening the door for criminals to take advantage.

"We've found that one of the biggest contributors to burglaries is big trees and bushes in yards," Bisch said. "They give criminals places to hide.

"We evaluated the safety of Mrs. Crawford's home and since then she has gotten new lights, locks and an alarm system. Now we just have to take care of the trees and bushes."

Seniors in the downtown area who would like to have a safety evaluation for their home, or have other law enforcement problems can contact Bisch at 262-2961.