Crime Wave Has Brier Creek Residents Concerned

Raleigh, N.C. — A string of crimes over the past few months in Raleigh's upscale Brier Creek area is alarming residents, who say they fear the situation will get worse if something is not done now.

The most recent incident was gunshots outside Bruce Matthews' home early Sunday morning. Police are still investigating.

"It was very alarming," Matthews said. "Very alarming, and something needs to be done."

The crimes have been mostly petty, said Kathi Hunter, Brier Creek's community watch committee chairwoman, but she said she fears they could get worse.

Police confirm more than 30 break-ins as well as thefts from open garages, but until the weekend, none had involved violence.

"It's escalating, and it's escalating to a point where eventually something bad's going to happen," Hunter said. "It's hitting our neighborhood extremely hard, and it has to stop."

The community scheduled a community watch meeting at the Brier Creek Country Club at 7 p.m. Thursday. Some people have said they want more of a police presence. Others say the homeowners' association should pay for a security officer to patrol the area.