Ansonia Block Watch Aims to Build Community

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

ANSONIA >> Though police recently caught a suspect they believe is responsible for a rash of summer home break-ins in the city’s Hilltop section, neighbors are moving forward with a block watch program to ensure all eyes and ears remain vigilant.

An organizational meeting for residents interested in joining a Hilltop neighborhood block watch program will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 8) at the Hilltop Hose firehouse, 80 Pulaski Highway. The public is invited, though the meeting primarily aims to find Hilltop residents to join various block watch groups.

The city held a meeting last month, which drew more than 300 residents, to discuss numerous break-ins and attempted break-ins in August. Since then, police arrested city resident Devon Miller, 21, allegedly linking him to several home burglaries in Derby. Both Derby and Ansonia police believe Miller is allegedly responsible for the series of Hilltop burglaries, as well, though Miller hasn’t been charged with the Ansonia burglaries to date.
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Ansonia block watch organizer launches Facebook page

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

ANSONIA >> Residents in the city’s Hilltop section have a new tool aimed at keeping them up-to-date on home and neighborhood security, which many believe comes in handy in light of the recent rash of home break-ins in the area.

Resident Vinnie Scarlata has launched a Facebook page, dubbed Ansonia Hilltop Watch, and the page has received hundreds of “likes” just days since it hit the Web.

“It’s ‘right now’ information,” Scarlata said. “When we post something, we know people will see it within hours and that makes it a great tool for community support and update.”

Scarlata was tapped by Police Chief Kevin Hale to get the ball rolling on organizing a neighborhood block watch for the Hilltop. Creating a Facebook page is an effective way to get the word out quickly to people when posting meeting dates, updates about burglaries, tips on home security and more. Scarlata will work with Officer Rich Esposito and resident Ed Norman, who organized past block watch groups, in posting relative information to Facebook.
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