Watching the Block

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Neighborhood watch groups around the country are starting to bring Twitter, text messages, blogs, and e-mail into their crime-fighting efforts.

The neighborhood groups are also using street patrols and cell phones to get the word out. And there are more of the groups than ever.

More than 20,000 block watch groups are registered on the National Sheriffs' Association Web site. That's compared to about 5,000 just four years ago.

While some groups form after break-ins or muggings, there are signs of increased interest as government law enforcement resources are strained by layoffs and furloughs.

For example, in Columbus, Ohio, 20 new neighborhood watch groups have sprouted since January. The city police chief had warned that as many as 300 officers could be laid off if a proposed citywide income tax increase failed. The levy passed last week.