Residents Show Concern Over Crime Rate
Last week, Galloway Police stated a report on gang stats released by the state was misleading, but crime has been on the rise for the last 5-7 years.
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In the last five to seven years, Galloway has seen an increase in drug activity and gun confiscation.
As residents digest recent stats released by the New Jersey State Police showing Galloway Township to have the largest gang population in Atlantic County, many cite recent incidents occurring in the Smithville area as evidence that the housing development known as “The Clubs” off of Wrangleboro Road is a main factor in Galloway’s increasing crime rate.
Last week, the Galloway Police Department called the gang statistics misleading, but did admit crime has been on the rise for more than half a decade.
According to many residents, their anxiety about Galloway’s crime rate has been exacerbated by last week’s robbery at the CVS Pharmacy in Smithville, approximately one mile from The Clubs.
“They were held up at gun point,” said Regina Silver, a second grade teacher at Smithville Elementary School.
CVS employees declined to comment because of the store’s corporate policy.
Police often notify teachers when something crime-related occurs in the area, Silver said.
“The cops have told us to lock our car doors,” she added. “Ten years ago, we didn’t do that.”
Silver also noted that there have been changes recently in school policy surrounding security. New policies include implementing “lock-down drills” on a monthly basis to protect students from intruders.
A Smithville business manager, who wished to be referred to as Joe Smith because of his home’s proximity to the Clubs, said he’s in the process of moving away from the area because of the alleged gang violence and drug activity.
The recent break-in at CVS, he said, further indicates how “transient” the area is becoming.
There are a lot of people moving into these inexpensive housing developments from Atlantic City, Smith explained and they bring their “[drug] habits with them.”
“We don’t have enough police. … This is all happening within a stone’s throw of the schools,” he added. “It’s astonishing.”
While some Galloway residents attribute crime issues in Galloway to the drug culture and low-income housing off of Wrangleboro Road, some say the problem is more related to teenage angst.
Such was the opinion of 19-year-old resident Rachel Evans, who claimed that “boredom” and lack of purpose amongst teens is the cause of the increased crime rate.
Yet, not all residents have taken notice of the area’s struggle to curtail gang and drug related incidents.
Mike Spagnola, the co-owner of Underground, a punk rock oriented boutique in Historic Smithville, claimed that although the bulk of Galloway’s illicit gang and drug activity is concentrated only one mile away from his shop, the area is generally “pretty quiet.”
“I feel pretty safe,” he said. “As a business owner you always worry. … There have been break-ins here before.”
“You can’t let it make you crazy.”
Chuck Laird
2:00 pm on Wednesday, February 9, 2011
It there any form of neighborhood watch program in the clubs, or anywhere in Galloway for that matter? The citizens need to become more pro active in the community and become the eyes and ears of the police.
Fotini gavrilis
6:59 pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I knew this would happen (crime) when they approved section 8 housing in Galloway. It's a shame....I've been a resident here for 23 yrs. and I don't feel safe anymore.
smithvillian
8:16 pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
That entire area off of Collins Rd. was just so poorly planned and implemented. Why would they allow such dense development...duplexes...triplexes....it's like a project mentality from the 60's. Fotini....your comment doesn't really make much sense. It's not like Galloway "approves" Section 8. Right off the bat when large scale development occurs a certain % of units must be set aside as affordable....which, is the way it should be. Affordable doesn't necessarily mean Section 8. As crappy developments like this age and the population of owner occupied units dwindle we have what we are all now subject to dealing with.....it's a big problem and it's only getting worse. Galloway saw the $ in saturating that area with as many units as they could shoehorn in with no foresight to the ramifications of such unresponsible planning. Now, were screwed....who would have thought?
Sean Conneamhe
12:29 am on Thursday, November 17, 2011
High density residential development means more traffic, more crime, and higher taxes.
Fotini gavrilis
7:55 am on Thursday, November 17, 2011
Section 8 is the problem... I've lived here long enough to see how good it was before and how bad it is now..listen.....we were fine until they removed the sec. 8 housing in Atlantic city....I think it was the Stanley homes village to make way for improvements off the xpwy....and they all moved here in Galloway. That's when it all began.
Fotini gavrilis
8:15 am on Thursday, November 17, 2011
This is why we are against the construction of condos/apartments they want to build behind the risley complex on Jimmie Leeds rd. eventually it will turn out like the area of Collins rd and mattix run. Also the same reason why absecon doesn't want those condos on new jersey ave to be available to just anyone....they are fighting for their neighborhood just like I am fighting for mine. :)
smithvillian
9:08 am on Thursday, November 17, 2011
It seems like you live in the area we are talking about so I assume you realize that it's your fellow homeowners that are not doing their due diligence in conducting background checks, etc on the tenants they are renting to.....what do they care, they don't live there, right..?..next time you see one of your "old" neighbors who moved and rented their units to a couple of thugs let them know about it....you can't turn back the clock on the lousy planning but you could save your neighborhood if owners were responsible and ban together to be responsible landlords. Evict those that violate leases, stop paying their portion of the rent and are known offenders. The problem lies within...and so does the answer. Take responsibility for your own environment.
Tina vanallen
8:16 am on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
No I don't live in that neighborhood.. I live a few miles away in a two story home in a cul de sac. And I don't have neighbors who own any of those properties, but I do have an aunt who lives in society hill, and looking to get out. I also have many friends, neighbors, and family in law enforcement, and they always complain about that area. They are destroying Galloway little be little, what a shame.
Tina vanallen
8:17 am on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Akafotinigavrilis
Tina vanallen
8:17 am on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
:)
jim
11:15 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
They need to put all section 8 in one huge area like Philly and blow the brige and declare marshal law over there its ridicules