KPTM FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |Men Break Into Cars, Bring Neighborhood Together

Nicole Ebat

OMAHA(KPTM)-- Police nabbed three men they say are responsible for breaking into several cars in a Bellevue neighborhood early Tuesday morning.

They had managed to slip away from police after their car skipped a curb and went down a steep embankment off of Ridgewood and Forest Drive. That didn't last long. Police say they had the final man in handcuffs by 6:30 that evening.

People in the Fontenelle Hills neighborhood didn't wait that long to call a meeting and a plan of action.

"It happened immediately. Everyone just comes together," says Maureen Holst, a newcomer to the area.

She was impressed by how quickly everyone was able to meet. She says she got the notice at about 5:30 p.m. and was sitting in a chair by 7 p.m.

The Bellevue police chief and mayor both attended the meeting.

People spoke out about what they said needed to happen in order to make sure crimes like that don't happen again. Better lighting was a primary suggestion said one neighbor.

Everyone in attendance was given a quick run down of safety precautions to help them avoid getting their cars broken into again:

Keep your doors locked, keys in hand and valuables out of sight.

"I feel very safe in this neighborhood," said Ruth Tempelmann whose house is right next to where the car crashed. "It's all very common sense,"

Bellevue Police Chief John Stacey says he can credit people's close watch to catching the three men so quickly. One woman called police after she saw the men wandering near someone else's car.

"It was a good solid group of people who really cared about their neighborhood," said Stacey.

He said he was impressed by the way people living there worked together to make sure everyone knew about the meeting.

He says bigger cities could learn a thing or two from the way these folks in Bellevue pulled together.

"The cohesiveness of this group to get involved and show concern for your neighborhood. Break the ice with your neighbors, try to get to know them and try to look out for each other," he said.

He said that's the best way to prevent crimes like the break-ins from happening.