Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti went door to door in North Andrews Gardens Tuesday morning, personally handing out door hangers with messages urging residents to report suspicious sights in their community.
The effort comes after areas like Oakland Park and North Andrews Gardens have experienced a rash of break-ins and robberies.
Some neighbors tell NBC Miami crime has become all too common.
“We have friends over on 51 Street who were broken into twice in a single month,” said Jason Ferrara, who has lived in his North Andrews Gardens home for 10 years, but not for much longer.
“My daughter doesn't walk out the front door,” he said. “We're moving to New York by June because of the neighborhood.
The sheriff said community policing works.
“This week, arrested three suspects because an alert neighbor saw something suspicious, called us, and within minutes, we apprehended three home burglars,” he told NBC Miami.
With the holidays coming up, Lamberti and Broward deputies are asking South Florida residents to be extra vigilant, because modern day burglars no longer hide in the dark.
“They pose as utility people, plumbers, electrical, FPL's telephone company,” he warned. “If you didn't call them, don't let them in."
