HPD plan targets crime at southwest apartment complexes

Staring this weekend, HPD officers will be on 24-hour patrol at five southwest Houston apartment complexes identified as crime hotspots, part of Mayor Bill White's plan to go after "unacceptable" crime rates in that part of town. At last 10 uniformed officers will be stationed at apartment complexes in the 3700 block of Hillcroft, the 8000 block of Creekbend and the 8100, 8900 and 10700 blocks of Fondren, KHOU reports.

HPD has never done this before, but officials say the show of force is necessary because of Houston's rising crime rate. According to the FBI, violent crime overall increased 2.4 percent in the city in 2005, while the homicide rate spiked 23 percent. And one-fourth of all violent crimes — rapes, murders, aggravated assaults, armed robberies — happen in southwest Houston. Police have been active undercover in southwest neighborhoods for some time, and though most residents said they're happy to have the new HPD presence, others worried that the cops will harass people who aren't doing anything wrong. But White said people who aren't committing crimes shouldn't worry: "There maybe some people uncomfortable with the police presence, but I tell you what, the vast majority of law abiding citizens are welcoming them,” he told KHOU.

White said the increased police presence will remain in place as long as it takes to decrease the crime rate in the area.