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Community creating crime watch after home invasion

By Trish Williford
By Trish Williford

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Residents like Cynthia Davis told police she simply wants to feel safe in her own home.
 
"The fact that she was 21, bravery, I don't know if I could've done it. My heart goes out for her," Davis said.
 
Many residents who attended tonight's community meeting hadn't heard about what happened on Matlea Drive.
 
"You would not have the attendance here today if your community was not very afraid," an officer said.
 
"We have to be diligent we don't have to be vigilantes but we have to be vigilant in identifying these people who don't belong in our neighborhoods," he said.

CMPD says two men were looking for a house to break into last week when they stumbled upon the home of 21-year-old Samantha Bunce.
 
Her family told Channel 9 she had just finished feeding her son before the burglars approached her.
 
Police said they fired at her and she fired back.
 
She was shot twice.
 
Police arrested the first suspect, Reco Dawkins, and charged him with attempted murder.
 
The other suspect is still out there.
 
Saturday CMPD officers encouraged residents to talk to their neighbors watch out for anyone who doesn't seem to belong in their neighborhood and to call police if they see anything suspicious.

A Hickory Grove community appears to be peaceful and quiet Friday night, but many neighbors told Channel 9 they are still on edge after last week's violent home invasion at a home on Matlea Court.

People who live on Matlea Court wouldn't talk to Channel 9 out of fear.

They know police are still searching for a second person who broke into the home of 21-year-old Semantha Bunce while she was feeding her son.

She was shot twice.

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Police arrested one suspect, Reco Dawkins, and charged him with attempted murder.

"You always think it's never going to happen to you," resident Mary Lou Johnson said.

People throughout the Hickory Grove community are still talking about the crime, and this weekend Charlotte-Mecklenburg police detectives will be out in the neighborhood talking about it too.

They want to make sure residents feel protected inside their own homes.

Officers will meet Saturday with residents and talk about the latest in their investigation into this violent attack.

They will also be implementing a crime watch.

Some residents told us they want to see more officers patrolling their neighborhoods.

Jennifer Stamos lives about a block away from where this crime happened.

She said her neighborhood is starting a unique community watch program.

"We do like an online program where we can all talk to each other," Stamos said.

There have been 56 homicides in Charlotte so far this year.

Officers will certainly be reminding residents that policing is a partnership.

Everyone must get involved to successfully fight crime.

A neighborhood meeting will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Hickory Grove Recreation Center to address a crime watch for the neighborhood.

There will be an earlier event in the Steele Creek area.

A “Community Corners Event” will take place in the parking lot of 201 E. Arrowood Road.

The event will take place between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.   The entire community is invited.

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