Larry Gutridge

When summer arrives and students are out of school, there always is an increase in crimes in most localities and Lehigh is no different. That’s the word from Capt. Paul Cummings, who heads the East Zone Sheriff’s Office at 1301 Homestead Road.

With those words from the captain, it also means there is always a need for neighborhood coordinators throughout Lehigh, people and neighbors being the eyes and ears.

That is where Larry Gutridge comes in. He is the person who oversees the different areas of Lehigh were there are people on the lookout for suspicious activity in their neighborhood.

In Gutridge’s office on the wall opposite his desk is a map of Lehigh Acres with black-drawn boxes around neighborhoods where they are or have been those who are on the outlook for suspicious people and/or crimes taking place.

“We encourage our neighborhood coordinators to be vigil and keep their ears and eyes open and to pass that on to those in the neighborhood. We ask them never to confront someone, but to call 911 or the Sheriff’s Office and report what may be strange in the neighborhood.

“I once asked a deputy if it was frustrating for him to get calls that may not amount to anything and he said never has that been a problem. He said he and other deputies would rather check into something that may not look right to people who live in the different neighborhoods. We want to check those things out,” he said.

“So what I am saying to everyone is what Sheriff Mike Scott says and that is if you see something that doesn’t look right, or is suspicious, or even the appearance of a crime underway call the Sheriff’s Office and let them know.

“I tell the people who are our neighborhood coordinators to never confront someone because they may be dangerous, but to call the Sheriff’s Office because the deputies have the tools to take care of a situation,” he said.

When you see something not right, you should not pursue the person and never carry a weapon if this happens.

The map shows neighborhoods where people are interested in helping one another. Some are active and others may not be as active as they once were.

He’s beginning to talk to some neighborhood coordinators and see if they want to continue their positions, and hoping that many others may come forth and ask to become neighborhood coordinators.

“It’s like you’re asking your neighbor to watch your house when you are away and you watch his house when he is away,” Gutridge said. Only with this program a neighborhood coordinator also works with his neighbors to keep their eyes and ears open. And if anyone in the neighborhood notices something suspicious, they would immediately call the authorities.

Gutridge says that like in most areas and Lehigh is not different, that most residents do not know their neighbors.

By becoming involved in a program that looks out for strange actions in a neighborhood, people will come to know one another. He said the usual first stage of a neighborhood watch includes that person and eight neighbors. There are no costs involved in becoming a neighborhood coordinator and Gutridge is available most of the time to take calls from participants to offer answers to questions residents may have.

Gutridge has been guiding the Lehigh neighborhood groups for seven years and carries the title of crime prevention specialist and chaplain for the sheriff’s office. He said that when Kevin Farrell retired from a similar position is when Gutridge took over.

Gutridge is a former pastor of a Lehigh Church and still preaches at Fountaincrest, a retirement complex, on Sundays. He says he often preaches on other occasions if invited to do so.

When Farrell left Lehigh, Gutridge said he moved to the Central District of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Part of Gutridge’s job is also to speak to groups about crime prevention and he always pitches the idea for neighborhoods to come together and get to know one another. Then, he said if someone wants to apply to be a crime coordinator, they can contact him at the Sheriff’s Office in Lehigh.

Gutridge is eyeing certain neighborhoods on the large map on his wall, especially areas where crime is becoming more prevalent.

One way to fight crime in those areas is to become involved in the Neighborhood Watch Program. Gutridge will offer any and all assistance to help a person become involved. He will meet with the coordinator and the people in the neighborhood, he said.

Gutridge noted that a neighborhood coordinator does not have to be someone who is home all the time. This person can assign others to watch out for suspicious activity during the day while the coordinator may be at work.

People are encouraged all through Lehigh to watch out, to keep their ears and eyes open for criminal activity. That can mean at night when someone gets up. People are often encouraged to glance outside their windows to watch for something unusual going on in the neighborhood. It could mean reporting someone walking down your street at 3 a.m. in the morning casing homes. It could mean someone is checking for unlocked cars so they can break into the car and steal items.

Gutridge also joins in with others fighting crime in Lehigh and urges people to secure their homes and to make sure to lock their cars.

Since school has ended, there has been an increase in break-ins of cars because the owners didn’t lock their cars.

“Helping to solve and stop crime is everyone’s job. Help the Sheriff’s Department; let them know when things just don’t look right in your neighborhood, things like strange cars driving up and down the street and the driver doesn’t live there, people knocking on doors and are strangers. Never open a door to someone you do not know, the Sheriff’s Office continues to say when they talk to people about crime prevention.

If you’re interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch, get in touch with Larry Gutridge. You can call him at 477-1802. If it is on a weekend or if he is out of the office, leave a message and he will return your call.

If you see something suspicious or a crime taking place, call the Sheriff’s Office at 477-1000. For emergencies, call 911.

“And step up to become a neighborhood coordinator; your help is needed,” Gutridge said.