FORT MILL, S.C. -- Fort Mill police expect 400 to 500 people to show up Thursday night at a community meeting to talk about crime and crime prevention.

"It's not panic time," said Fort Mill Oolice Officer Ray Dixon. "Fort Mill is a safe place to live and work, and we want to stay on top of things to keep in that way."

Dixon decided to hold the meeting after gunshots were fired during a robbery attempt on Fairway Drive over the weekend. It's a quiet, established neighborhood where many wouldn't expect such a crime to happen.

According to police, a man with a gun went house to house around 5 a.m., knocking on doors. Several neighbors reported hearing a knock, but didn't answer the door.

When the man reached Tom Hagood's home, Hagood heard a popping sound. He told police he saw the man standing in his garage area.

Police said the man fired several shots at Hagood, and then ran off.

"I'm just happy that we're having this meeting," Hagood said. "Maybe it'll help prevent this from happening again."

Police want neighbors to know that Fort Mill is still a safe community. In fact, crime in general was down from 2006 to 2007. Robbery was down by half, and break-ins fell too.

"This is still a great place to live and work," Dixon said. "We just need cooperation, and better communication from residents."

Dixon said some people are calling 911 hours, even days after a crime is committed, thinking it wasn't a big deal.

"They can call us a thousand times. It could help us solve a case," he said.

Scott Adams lives off Doby's Bridge Road in a neighborhood not far from where the gunshots were fired on Sunday.

"Of course it concerns me," he said. "You never know. Was it gang-related, or just an isolated incident?"

Adams plans to attend the meeting, hoping police can provide some answers.

Dixon said he plans to talk about how people can protect themselves by locking doors, shutting garage doors, installing more lighting and other things.

Last year, Dixon was made the city's crime prevention officer. He goes to neighborhoods, community groups and local businesses preaching safety and preparedness, urging people to be proactive against crime.

"We need people calling; we need people watching; we need people looking out for their neighbors," he said.