By Peter Day
Senior Reporter
When Chuck Bell had some farm equipment stolen a while back, he turned to Deputy Kristie Dougan, a member of the county's Rural Crimes Task Force.
Dougan investigated the theft and using her skill and investigation techniques eventually recovered Bell's property.
Last Tuesday, Dougan shared the current state of rural crimes and how Lucerne Valley farmers and ranchers can protect themselves from increasingly brazen thieves during the monthly meeting of the Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association.
The most important factor in protecting oneself from rural crime, she said, is to become acquainted with your neighbors.
"Only you know who is supposed to be in your neighborhood. And how are we going to know what's going on unless we keep our eyes and ears open?"
The best way to do that, according to Dougan, is to start up Farm Watch groups in Lucerne Valley.
"The Farm Watch program is your Neighborhood Watch program on steroids," Dougan said. "Farm Watch is designed for farms, ranches and commercial businesses. You don't have to be the farmer yourself. You could be the resident who lives next door to the business or the farmer or rancher. It's all about taking care of yourselves and the neighbors and watching everything that goes on."
A "Farm Watch" program document provides the steps to starting one in your neighborhood. First, find out who would be able to attend a Farm Watch meeting.
"If you don't have regular meetings you don't know what's going on?"
Then, start a phone and email list. Some Farm Watch groups have utilized Facebook as a way to communicate.
"Don't be afraid to introduce yourselves. If you see something, say something."
Bell, who serves as president of LVEDA, invited Deputy Dougan and task force team member Deputy Rob Oakleaf to come back and use the Senior Center as a location to sign up Farm Watch and Neighborhood Watch participants. A meeting is expected to be held in upcoming months.