A plea from North Catasauqua residents who had requested a more effective communication from the borough and the police department concerning a rash of vehicle break-ins earlier this summer apparently fell on deaf ears – or ears that are more seasoned in what might be more effective communication. Some of those residents returned to the borough council for the second month in a row for an update on the investigation and to question the borough's response to their earlier requests.

One of the suggestions made at the July 22 council meeting had been that the borough could distribute fliers informing residents in the Palimino Drive neighborhood of the criminal activity so everyone is aware that it has happened and can take measures to secure their valuables and keep an eye out for unusual activity. A resident at that meeting said he learned there had been 16 break-ins in one night.

"I'd just like to find out where we are with that issue," resident Dan Silverblatt said.

Mayor Bill Monchany said since that meeting he had met with the council's public safety committee two weeks ago to discuss how to deliver better communication, and whether it is needed.

"We discussed the article in the [July 31] Catty Press and we also discussed a few other options," he said. "We decided that once we get the [borough] website up and running, we're going to have a link for the police department, and if anything like this happens again, we will put it under there."

At the July meeting, Fire Chief Sean McGinley had offered to post alerts and announcements about the situation on the Charotin Hose Company website, but Molchany said the committee decided it would be best not to post police business on the fire department website.

"What was the reason against putting fliers in every person's door?" Silverblatt asked.

Molchany said he felt that the newspaper article and website postings should be adequate public notification.

"The main issue was communicating some of these ideas," Silverblatt said. He was concerned that not every resident subscribes to the Catasauqua Press, but all residents would have access to a flier placed in their door or their home.

Silverblatt and others in attendance stressed that they have confidence in the police and their investigation, but are seeking better communication between borough officials a residents.

Councilman Peter Paone addressed the council's concerns with distributing fliers in the past. The recreation committee and fire department have used volunteers to distribute fliers about community programs they have hosted.

"We've had a lot of issues getting them out," he said. "It gets down to how many volunteers you have and how committed they are to doing it."

Silverblatt said he felt there were enough committed residents to handle the job.

Paone explained that past experience has shown that flier distribution to the entire borough, dependent on volunteers, has not been completely successful.

You can only keep volunteers interested for so long," Paone said. "Sooner or later, it just breaks down."

Silverblatt said he has a group of about 20 neighbors who are motivated to get the word out.

"I wasn't victimized, but my adrenaline is pumping for [the safety of] my wife and my daughters," he said.

Councilman Michael Seng floated the possibility of forming a neighborhood block watch, with a lead member of the organization being a connection between the police department and the neighborhoods.

Silverblatt said the idea of a block watch had "never even come up" with residents. They are simply looking for better communication about safety and crime issues when they occur so that residents know what is going on.

Resident Brenda Dreisbach said she would be willing to work with Silverblatt in setting up a neighborhood watch program, and also had compliments for the police force.

"The officers that are on patrol now, I am extremely happy with," she said. "They are very diligent and are well received by a lot of people in my neighborhood."

For now, no plans are being made for a neighborhood watch, no fliers are being distributed and the website is not up and running.

The good news is, according to Police Chief Kim Moyer, the vehicle break-ins have stopped.