The "Crime Free Housing" plan requires apartment complexes to do criminal background checks on all prospective tenants.MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma -
Police in Midwest
City say a plan to better screen tenants and make apartment complexes safer is
accomplishing its objective.
"Crime Free
Housing" was implemented years ago in Midwest City and now the City of Norman
is following their lead.
The plan requires
apartment complexes to do criminal background checks on all prospective tenants.
Complexes must
also make improvements around their facilities. Landscaping needs to be cut
back to eliminate areas where a criminal can hide. Dead bolt locks need to be
secured with longer screws. And apartment managers learn the quickest ways to
evict tenants who break lease rules.
"We learned what
marijuana smells like, also if a person is edgy and wants to move in really
fast, that's a sign," says Kristie Dhungel of Raintree Meadows Apartments,
which recently became a "Crime Free Housing" complex.
"I think all
apartment places should do that," says Raintree Meadows resident Glenn Meeks.
Midwest City
police say when they first started "Crime Free Housing" four years ago no
apartment complex signed up.
In 2010, Midwest
City implemented a rental registration fee which can costs apartment complexes
around $12 per unit and participating in "Crime Free Housing" gives
complexes a 50% discount.
Now, 8 of 28 apartment complexes in Midwest City are participating
with two more coming online in a week.
Norman says it will start "Crime Free Housing" in August or
September on a volunteer basis.
