Brian Bass, Levi Carigan and Shawn Cooper want to help Red Bank become a safer place. “We want to alert the county to how bad the problem is,” said Cooper.

420 concerned residents showed up for a community meeting Carigan organized last week. Captain Adam Myrick said, “Our meeting a couple of weeks ago was a great start. I was pleased to see so many people there.”

County Council man Bobby Keisler urged neighbors to work together to protect the community.

“The best way to do that is to keep an eye out for each other and report anything or anyone suspicious,” he said,

The 3 businessmen, Bass, Carigan, and Cooper, are concerned for the safety of women, children, and the elderly in Red Bank.

Drugs, homelessness and burglary have drastically increased in the area.

“Everyone is targeted,” said Cooper. “The elderly are really scared. Women are not going out after dark to the Walmart or the gas station.”

Bass said, “Catalytic converters, tools, trailers, cars, trucks, and ATVs are being stolen daily.

“Lexington sheriff’s numbers show crime trending down, but what is happening is residents have stopped reporting incidents because they are not getting the help they need from the sheriff’s department.”

Bass, a small business owner, said he has lost $75,000 to $100,000 from the 5 times he has been robbed since last November.

Cooper said, “There is not a patch of woods behind any retail establishment that doesn’t have a homeless site.

“The fence behind the Saxe Gotha Elementary School had a hole cut in it leading to an abandoned homeless camp,” said Bass.

“We don’t have enough police to protect us.”

Lexington’s Sheriff Koon has taken steps to increase recruiting efforts and hired a recruiting sergeant to target contacts with potential employees.

“I met with Sheriff Koon and we are working closely together regarding these concerns,” said Councilman Keisler.

“Sheriff Koon is making plans for increased patrols, and resident deputies are hard at work helping citizens on specific calls and setting up neighborhood watches,” he said.

“We’re also working to make sure everyone knows their resident deputy,” Myrick said.

Red Bank Deputy resident Lance Thomas can be reached at 803-785-8230, 803-231-8568 or lthoms@lcsd.sc.gov .

Neighborhood Watch programs and a Facebook page have been set up to help law enforcement and citizens together.

Residents already on Facebook can join the “criminal and drug activity in Red Bank and surrounding areas” page by sending a request.

Informational meeting to start a Crime Watch will be Tuesday, June 4, at 6:30 pm at 102 Airport Rd, Pelion. Interested residents can call Officer Lovell at 518-3076 for more information.

“We all have the same goal. We want to feel and be safe in our homes, schools, churches,” Myrick said.