Segway Patrols Reduce Crime in Baltimore Neighborhood
Updated: Tuesday, October 9 2012, 10:57 PM EDT
They have stopped armed robberies in progress and are never far away when gun shots ring out. The group is called the Midtown Benefits District. They use off duty officers and volunteer citizens to patrol the Mount Vernon neighborhood at night on Segways.
Many wonder who the men riding up and down the street on Segways. They are ordinary citizens, a real estate developer or a historic preservationist, who want to protect the streets they call home.
They meet three nights a week at the Belvedere Hotel then head out to patrol the streets until the early morning. "Often we're looking for people alone, women, needing an escort back to their car," said one volunteer.
Since the patrols began in 2009, violent crimes have gone down more than 40% in the area. And while the crime may be decreasing, the passion to take back their streets never will.
"We are proud of the work we've done, I think we're a model for the rest of the city and country for the work we've done"
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