Kingsburg neighborhoods that once felt safe have fallen victim to crime.
“I got a call from the Tulare Sheriffs office saying, ‘Hey do you own this bike?’” said Bryan Peterson.
Peterson didn't know his bike had been stolen from his garage until police caught the thieves the next day.
“Our garage door was open and they saw the bike and took it,” Peterson said.
He said thieves have hit other homes in this development.
That's why more than 200 residents met at Rafer Johnson Middle School to talk with city officials and the police chief.
The citizens would like to see more officers on the streets.
They have asked the city to put a public safety tax up for a vote.
“We are trying to see what we can do. Some other type of tax or something that we can put on to bring on more officers, reserve officers, part time officers whatever it is,” Anna Marie Blackwell, who is trying rally residents.
The police department has seen budget cuts and layoffs.
The department is asking citizens to form neighborhood watch groups and to help look out for each other.
“The residents know, ‘Hey, I lived here a long time, I've never seen that car before. It's driven around the block twice. I need to call somebody,’” said Kingsburg Police Chief Jeff Dunn.
Bryan says his neighbors are more watchful.
And his bikes are now locked up.
“Me being a Christian man, I believe the commandment: thou shall not steal. And it's frustrating that people do,” Peterson said.
