By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — The Inwood Safety Patrol took to the streets Sunday night for its first neighborhood patrol since spring, to quell community fears sparked by a recent spate of reported violent attacks, sexual assaults, muggings and armed robberies.
A mother walking with her 17-month-old baby was mugged in Inwood Hill Park last week and, according to a recent crime statistic report, violent crime in the area has shot up in the last year. The group formed through Twitter to address the problem.
The eight-person volunteer patrol met after dark and walked through Inwood Hill Park, Isham Park and up and down Dyckman Street, past the scenes of recent reported crimes.
"Nagle, Sherman, Post, Vermilyea Aves @InwoodSafety has your back. Come join us in protecting all of #Inwood Safety is everyone's concern,” Angel Figueroa, one of the group's organizers, tweeted before the walk.
Figueroa said the group will be making organized random patrols and is looking into implementing a "buddy system" program so that people feel safe walking in the neighborhood, especially late at night and early morning.
For now the patrol is made up of people who know one another from the neighborhood and through Inwood's Twitter community, but the group plans to do more outreach.
"There has to be a sustainable way to deal with the crime," Figueroa said during the walk. "The whole community has to get involved."
George Espinal, president of the 34th Precinct Community Council, said he felt compelled to participate in the patrol Sunday night so that he could meet with other concerned residents to brainstorm new safety initiatives.
Espinal said he plans to hold a meeting with key members of the community on Friday to continue the discussion.
"I knew I had to be here,” Espinal said. "We need to find ways to make people feel safer and able to enjoy their neighborhood."
Inwood residents interested in volunteering can learn more on the Inwood Safety Patrol Facebook page. Group leaders said they welcome suggestions on how to best make the patrol a success.
