Crime Curfew: Be Inside by 9
Adults and kids required to be inside homes by 9 p.m. in town's worst neighborhood
By VINCE LATTANZIO
Updated 2:33 PM EDT, Fri, Sep 4, 2009
A declaration was made in Darby Borough -- there's too much crime and it has to stop.
"I, myself, Helen Thomas the mayor, has declared a state of emergency," Thomas said Thursday night.
Thomas imposed a 9 p.m. curfew for the town's most dangerous section -- a five block long area from 5th to Front Street.
Thomas says gun violence in the area has made it so dangerous, a curfew is the only solution. The drastic move applies to both kids and adults. As you can imagine, it's not popular.
"Its taking it out on the adults," resident Dona Greene told NBC Philadelphia's Kristen Welker. "I mean, I'm 52-years old. Why can't I come out of my house? I pay rent."
Teen Aleshya Roberts agreed: "I have a baby of my own to tell to go into the house, let alone cops come and tell me to come and go in the house."
Ebony Wright is on the other side of the aisle. "I think it's good in a way because of all the violence happening in the neighborhood."
But most residents say they'd rather see more police patrolling their streets than being forced inside.
"I think they should watch the block and monitor the block," said Roberts.
Residents will not be arrested if they break the curfew, the mayor assured. "All they have to do is just show identification and show that they belong there and everything is fine," Thomas said.
The curfew went into effect Thursday. The mayor did not say if or when it would be lifted.
Here is a map of the area under curfew:
First Published: Sep 3, 2009 11:29 PM EDT
- 47% thrilled 47
- 24% laughing 24
- 13% sad 13
- 7% furious 7
- 4% bored 4
- 4% intrigued 4
