Sprague residents form Block Watch

Sprague, Conn. (WTNH) - Burglaries, thefts and vandalism have prompted residents in Sprague to form a Block Watch.

Whether its kids or career criminals doing the crimes, the vandalism is costing the town a lot of money and is wearing on a lot of nerves. The latest act turned a street sign into a swastika.

"If I could have gotten it out of the road myself, I would have done it. But I had to have my highway crew do it so they did it the next morning," said First Selectwoman Cathy Osten (D).

The effort to add extra eyes to aid law enforcement comes after several signs were either vandalized or stolen. An empty post sits across the street from the Sayles School, a River Park sign stripped away, and the wood-carved sign welcoming visitors to the Hanover section of town torn from its posts.

The resident state trooper was called in to help organize the neighborhood watches.

"It's very helpful for us, extremely helpful for us to have people report things that are going on. It's the only way we're gonna get it because we're not going to be every place all day long. They are," Osten said.