Following the abduction and killing of a Drummond Street resident, some residents are calling for heightened police presence in the area.

Sharen Wilson, 69, was attacked in her Drummond Street home last weekend before being kidnapped and taken to the abandoned Kuhn Memorial Hospital where she was murdered.

Drummond Street resident Tondia Ferracci said she too has been the victim of multiple crimes, though far less serious ones than the ones committed against Wilson.

“It’s historical, diverse and we have all walks of life and social classes,” she said of the neighborhood. “We all exist very well together.”

Crime goes in waves on Drummond Street, Ferracci said.

“Years ago, our house was broken into five or more times,” she said. “It might get broken into a few times and then things get a lot better and there’s not problems.”

Ferracci said she thinks there should a larger police presence, but added she believes they’re doing what they can with the resources they have.

“People on Drummond Street aren’t going anywhere,” Ferracci said. “They’re vested as a community; we just want it to be a safe one.”

A 31-year Drummond Street resident, Anita Schilling, said her house was broken into Oct. 1, 2012.

Her husband was gone and she was asleep when she heard glass breaking and an unidentified man came into the upstairs area of her home.

Police came quickly and the man was not aggressive, but Schilling said she was fortunate.

“I stayed on the line with the dispatcher until the police got there,” she said. “It took less than two minutes.”

The police ended up cornering the intruder in an upstairs bathroom.

“I think he was mostly trying to get out of the rain and didn’t realize anyone was there,” she said. “The police were so quick and so good about helping me. One of the officers stayed behind and helped me get some wood and screw it up to close the house back off.”

Years ago Schilling said some juveniles broke into her home, but two times in 31 years wasn’t a terrible record she added.

Schilling said she and her family put an emphasis on staying alert.

“We do have a neighborhood watch program that really got reignited after this instance with me,” she said.

Fostoria Neighborhood Association president Peggy Fulghum agreed there are problems on Drummond Street.

“Yes, we have some problems, but I don’t think it’s any more prevalent here than it is anywhere else in Vicksburg, Warren County or the state of Mississippi,” Fulghum said. “I think it’s in line with everywhere else.”

Fulghum said there are certain areas she would like to see addressed more.

“We feel there are some spots that maybe need more surveillance,” she said. “I don’t think they can go any further until something is actually committed I think. They mostly have to come out on a lot of noise disturbances.”

Fulghum and Ferracci both noted a lot of residents are getting security systems and cameras.

Another Drummond resident, Launo Moore, said they have law enforcement representatives at every one of their neighborhood association meetings.

“They all know us,” she said of law enforcement. “They know we’re going to call them if we see or hear anything suspicious, and they report immediately.”