Citizens praise High Point officers’ efforts to cut down on crime at hotel

HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) – People living in the Oakview neighborhood in High Point are praising efforts by police to cut down on crime at a hotel.

The InTown Suites on North Main Street has been on officers’ radar for about four years now. Police are doing what they call self-initiated calls. These are calls that aren’t in response to a 911 call.

Of all the calls for service to the hotel so far this year, about 66 percent of them are self-initiated. It’s the department’s way of being proactive and stopping crime before it happens.

“I think our police are doing a fabulous job,” said Jim Bronnert, president of the Oakview Citizens Council. “They don’t need to be there all the time.”

From Jan. 1 to now, there have been 211 calls for service to the InTown Suites in High Point. Of those 211, 140 are self-initiated by police.

Of the 140, 104 are special checks where officers drive or walk around the property, go inside and talk with people and take note of anything suspicious.

High Point police have put extra focus on these efforts after hearing from many concerned citizens more than two months ago at an Oakview Citizens Council meeting.

“The crime continues to go on at InTown Suites, and it’s quite concerning to the neighbors and businesses,” Bronnert said.

So far in 2024, police have also responded to the following types of calls:

• 20 criminal processes
• 12 follow ups
• nine domestic disturbances
• seven public disturbances
• six suspicious vehicles

“Everybody deserves to … live in a safe town,” Bronnert said. “There’s parts of High Point that are very safe. The focus on this end of town has kind of deteriorated somewhat.”

Some citizens feel like the concerns they’re expressing aren’t being heard.

FOX8 did request an interview with the mayor and the councilman over this area. Neither of them were available on Thursday.

A spokesperson with the city did send over a statement saying in part, “The city remains committed to proactive safety solutions that involve the necessary engagement and involvement of our High Point community.”

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