Falcon Crest Neighbors Worried About Safety

More than 30 members of the Falcon Crest community, where a shooting occurred last week, turned out for a meeting with the sheriff's department about safety concerns in their neighborhood.

The meeting began at 6 p.m. at the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station and was led by Sgt. Misty Reynolds of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

"Please help us help yourselves and help your community out by reducing the chance of you being victimized,” Reynolds said.

Fritz Solis, a homeowner who lives in the Falcon Crest development, said he is concerned about a perceived rise in crime following two shootings in the last six months.

"Since we are not a gated community, anyone can come and go,'' Solis said.

He said what concerns him most is the at the Hovely Garden apartments, which is next to the neighborhood.

Last week, someone shot a and a bullet struck a home, according to the sheriff's department.

During the meeting, another resident expressed her concerns about the number of vacant homes in the neighborhood.

"It is very dark because of all the empty homes,” she said, adding that "thugs" ran across her yard, which backs up to a soccer park.

"We have put in these plants that have long thorns to try to divert them from doing that. We have been trying to work with you guys and the city for a long time,'' she said.

Reynolds said patrolling deputies have a list of the vacant homes. A city official at the meeting said they were looking into solutions to turn the lights on at vacant homes.

Another woman said that the neighborhood is working to bring a community watch group together again.

"We have a very amazing neighborhood,“ she said.