GERMANTOWN, Tenn. — Two armed robberies in Germantown have residents on edge, and some companies can’t wait to cash-in on that fear.
As soon as you cross the city line into Germantown, you often see police making their presence known and creating a haven against crime.
But that protective bubble burst this week when two Germantown families were robbed in their driveways, and elderly couple even pushed to the ground.
“You open up your garage, think you’re home and get your groceries. You have to make sure you’re protected then, too,” Germantown resident Robert Hogue, who’s been carrying a gun “for a long time,” said.
Still, many others leave garage doors open and doors unlocked. Deputy Police Chief Rodney Bright says police need help keeping the suburb safe.
“A lot of crimes are crimes of opportunity,” he said. “We want to do everything we can to educate the residents to do what we can to protect yourselves.”
Security companies have been spotted in some neighborhoods, selling camera systems and alarms to rattled residents.
Pete Shea of Novatech security wasn’t one of them, because he says that’s not the problem.
“You gotta turn it on. If you don’t turn it on, it’s not going to do you a bit of good at all,” he said.
Shea said most homes have alarms, but people just don’t use them.
“You’d be be surprised how many new homes we wire, monthly, weekly, daily, and people never call to get it turned on, never call to see how it works,” he said.
The robberies, however, have got people changing their routine. They say it’s a wake-up call long overdue.