For neighbors living in the neighborhood around 22nd Ave s.w. and s.w. 110th St in White Center, the time has come to gather, meet and start watching out for each other.

Coordinated by White Center resident Aileen Sison, a group of about twenty assembled to share a potluck dinner and, for many, meet each other for the first time on May 27.

“I know the cars in my neighborhood better than the people,” Sison said, prompting her to print out flyers and go door to door to nearly 40 houses, asking people to come to the Blockwatch Party and learn how they can organize.

Over the last year or so, Sison said the neighborhood has seen an uptick in burglaries, car prowls and illegal dumping in the rather remote neighborhood of White Center.

She remembered reading about a huge spike in West Seattle burglaries in April:

“And I’m thinking wow, if its happening over there on the good side of the hill I wonder what it’s like over hear – double, triple?”

Neighbors gathered to share good food on a pleasant Friday evening, swapping stories evenly mixed between tales of their burglary experiences and more lighthearted topics.

Sison said there had been a blockwatch in the area, but it fizzled out two to three years back. When the neighbors stopped diligently watching out for one another, it seemed the crime began to rise.

In early June the group is having Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon come out to help organize a blockwatch.

Burglars beware; this particular neighborhood just became a lot less attractive.

For more information on joining the White Center blockwatch, contact Aileen Sison at 206-387-8145 or aileensison[at]gmail.com.