Fighting crime in foreclosures

- Concerned about crime and a spike in abandoned homes, more than 100 residents poured into the Sportsmen's Lodge on Sunday for a neighborhood empowerment meeting.Sue Doyle ijn the Daily News.

Standing together to protect their communities, residents pushed for the 42 new community watch groups that have been established since last year to stand guard in Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Valley Village.

The latest local efforts nearly double the number of watch groups to 89 safeguarding those areas as residents mobilize to obliterate graffiti and blight tainting their streets.