Durham Police To Set Up Command Post, Canvass Neighborhoods

Wednesday evening,

police

will set up a command post at the intersection of West Club Boulevard and Oval Drive.

Officers will also fan out in the neighborhood to get more information about recent crimes and to calm fears.

"Certainly, last year there was a major reduction in crime. But as you can see from this recent event, we still don't feel safe, and more needs to be done," said Norman Aguiar of Partners Against Crime.

Police will pass out pamphlets containing descriptions of suspects in two sexual assaults and a home invasion that occurred over the past three months. The pamphlet will include suspect information and phone numbers for residents to call. Officers will also set up drivers' license checks.

The

latest incident

happened last Thursday when, according to police, a man with a shotgun sexually assaulted a woman during a home invasion in the Watts-Hillandale neighborhood.

"It's tough when you have daughters," said resident Tim Schrand. "You can talk to them about how to behave on the outside, but when you're in the house in the middle of the night, what are you supposed to do?"

Authorities said that the earliest crime happened in January, when someone repeatedly hit a woman on the head with a weapon as she walked to her car in the 400 block of Gregson Street.

Despite the recent crimes, some residents think their neighborhood is still a great place to live.

"It's very shocking and upsetting when someone is assaulted, when things of that kind of violent nature occur. But that happens in lots of places, so I don't think it's a reflection on the neighborhood," said resident Katherine Johnson.

Durham police are still trying to figure out whether the crimes are related. Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers at

(919) 683-1200.