Two hundred people from the Hill neighborhood in Augusta are fighting back, after the area's had more than a dozen break-ins in the past two months.

They're forming a neighborhood watch group to help stop criminals. They've already appointed a block captain who will help notify the other streets if a crime has occurred.

Neighbors are also paying for extra patrols in the community. Every household was asked to donate $100 to pay for an off-duty deputy to patrol the area.

Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength attended Monday night’s meeting. He talked about ways people can protect themselves from being burglarized.

He says the number one mistake people make is not locking their doors. In some cases, including a few of the burglaries on the Hill, people didn't have their doors locked.

Also, make sure to set your alarms, even if you're at home. Cut shrubs below the windows, this makes spotting criminals easier for deputies. Buy a three-inch dead bolt for your doors. Light up the outside of your home. And finally, report anyone who looks suspicious. Being aware of your surroundings will help keep criminals away.

Sheriff Strength says they are doing everything they can to patrol these neighborhoods. But one of the biggest problems they're facing is staffing.

Strength says he's needs about 30 more road deputies. But despite being short staffed, Richmond County is doing better solving burglary cases than the rest of the nation.

The Sheriff says nationally, only about 14 percent of burglary cases are solved. Here in Richmond County, they're at 15 percent. Strength says the county averages 240 burglaries a month. Proactive solutions like neighborhood watch groups and common sense will help those numbers drop even more.