Kruger Street resident Gina M.T. Domenick-Hanket says a group of teenagers are causing problems in her neighborhood. Now she wants her neighbors to help her rid Elm Grove of the criminal element.
''We don't want Elm Grove to become like East Wheeling or Wheeling Island,'' Domenick-Hanket said referring to frequent reports of criminal activity in those areas of the city.
Domenick-Hanket said there are about 12 teenagers threatening Elm Grove residents, committing vandalism, stealing property and using illegal drugs in her neighborhood.
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Kruger Street resident Gina M.T. Domenick-Hanket wants citizens in the Elm Grove section of Wheeling to call the police when they see crime happening in the neighborhood.
''I had to buy a security system and put up 'No Trespassing' signs. We have even gone so far as to set up booby traps to keep the thugs away from our houses. There is no reason we should have to do things like this out here in Elm Grove,'' she said.
Domenick-Hanket said the problems have persisted during her entire two years at the Kruger Street residence.
''It is not as if these things just started because they have been going on for a while,'' she said.
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Elm Grove Crime Watch meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Elm Grove Civics.
But Domenick-Hanket does not blame the Wheeling Police Department for the criminal activity in her neighborhood.
''The police do an excellent job, and they come when you call them. The problem is that a lot of the people around here are afraid to call the police because the thugs threaten them,'' she said.
Wheeling police Sgt. Jim Braden said there have been several recent reports of vandalism in Elm Grove. Braden said similar acts take place throughout the city.
''It is pretty much the same thing in every neighborhood,'' he said.
But Domenick-Hanket wants Elm Grove residents to stand together to fight crime.
''We have to call the police when we know these things are going on. We have to go to our crime watch meetings every month,'' she said.
Elm Grove Crime Watch generally meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Elm Grove Civics.
''We need people to go to the meetings to tell the police what is going on. Then we need to work together as citizens to make sure we watch out for each other so that we can get these criminals out of here,'' she said.