Richmond police go door-to-door in Oak Grove neighborhood - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

Richmond police continued their mission Thursday night to quell a surge in violent crime across the city.

Out of the 11 homicides last month, five were in south Richmond. Officers canvassed several neighborhoods that area Thursday evening.

At the end of September, a man was discovered shot dead in a home on Ingram Avenue. People in the Oak Grove neighborhood say they're not as comfortable as they used to be leaving their homes. People say they're defending themselves and their homes.

"I would like to be more comfortable outside my house, out in the neighborhood," said Matt Fichter, who lives in the area.

Residents say they're also concerned about a rash of home burglaries. Barbara Starkey-Goode says she was home when three young men attempted to raid her house.

"They didn't know I was there, but I was at home, and they came in," said

Starkey-Goode. "They, of course, ran out, and I knocked them out of their shoes."

Starkey-Goode joined police in going door to door, helping the community open up to those who are trying to protect them.

"We used to sit out and hang out a little bit, but now we stopped hanging out because of all the high crime," said Oak Grove resident Deborah Clary.

Other concerns from neighbors were of blight in the area, and vacant houses being magnets for trouble.

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