(PRICHARD, Ala.) June 19 - Business owners in Prichard say they have had enough of burglars breaking into their businesses and thieves making off with their merchandise.
Customers walking into J&J Grocery keep it one of the busiest stores in the Eight Mile area of Prichard, but it is also a target for thieves.
Janet Kobb, a business owner, says thieves were in the parking lot Thursday night going from window to window trying to sell drugs, but there is suspicious activity every night near her business.
Kobb and six other business owners on Lott Road say they want Prichard Police to do a better job patrolling and responding to crime. They say that is why they have customers and people living in the area sign petitions to present to the department.
Prichard Police Chief Lawrence Battiste says the department has increased patrols in the area and wants to create neighborhood watch programs throughout the area to help solve crimes.
Kobb says she knows Prichard is making an effort, but everyone involved needs to do more to stop the crime. She says more will have to be done before neighborhood watch programs are up, running and organized.
