Pickerington Police Develop Program To Protect Children Home Alone

A Pickerington police program helps parents keep tabs on their children.

The Children Home Alone Program, developed by Pickerington police, allows parents to ask officers to check on their homes for unusual activity.

“If you have an issue with your child having a bunch of kids over and you don’t want that, let us know, and if we see that, we’ll call you and let you know,” said Pickerington Cmdr. Matt Delp.

As part of routine patrol, police will check on houses to look for suspicious cars or activity.

“We’re not going up knocking on doors just to check on them,” Delp said. “It’s not a babysitting service.”

Police said that the economy has played a role in the creation of the program. They also said that the program also serves as a deterrent for drug and alcohol use for teens.

“We definitely want to avoid experimentation,” Delp said. “You get groups of kids together, somebody comes up with the idea of trying something, and then suddenly we end up with something we don’t want.”

Kim, a mother who did not want to be identified by her last name, said that the program offers her peace of mind.

“With him, and I’m sure with most kids 14 years old, we run into that issue of, ‘Is he actually doing what he’s saying he’s doing?’” Kim said.
 
She said that if the program keeps one child out of trouble, the program would be worth it.

“If he needs to learn a lesson, then so be it,” Kim said.

Police told CrimeTracker 10 that more than 500 residents have signed up for the CHAP program.

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