ANSON -- A number of residents say they are fed up with youth vandalizing property, harassing girls and being nuisances in town.

So, understanding that police resources are stretched, they have taken matters into their own hands and formed one of the only neighborhood-watch groups in the county.

Composed of husbands and wives, teenage girls and people older than 70, the 35-person watch group does not intend to replace law enforcement. It does, however, expect to reduce crime by encouraging vigilance and acting as the communication link between citizens and police, said Fran Sabol, the liaison for the group.

"This summer, things got out of control," Sabol said, describing how nearly two dozen windows were smashed at the Garret Schenck Elementary School. Then youths broke into his redemption center. They smashed a man's car. They vandalized a house. Girls complained that young men on the street were harassing them, he said.

Anson does not have a police department, and in some cases, by the time Somerset County Sheriff's Office deputies or Maine State Police arrived on scene, the aggressors were gone, Sabol said. So residents brought their concerns to selectmen, who contacted the sheriff's office, state police and the district attorney in an attempt to address the issue, Sabol added.

Residents gathered at Town Hall in June to vent their frustrations, and Lt. Don Pomelow with the Maine State Police suggested they form a neighborhood-watch group.

"We thought that was a great idea. Rather than have everyone be angry and upset, we thought maybe we could do something and be helpful," Sabol said.

With help from Deputy Ritchie Putnam and Trooper Peter Michaud, the group of volunteers has created a plan: when people see someone causing a problem or committing a crime, they contact Sabol, who keeps a record of the offenses. Then Sabol informs police of what occurred, and police handle it from there. People in the watch group -- who have gone through a standard training program with police -- are spread across town to keep an eye out for possible violations.

"People are looking," Sabol said. "We're not just going to stand by and not try to hold someone accountable."

The group has been operating for nearly two months, "and it's been relatively quiet," Sabol said. A teenager was riding a four-wheeler recklessly about two weeks ago, and Sabol told police, who contacted the boy's parents. "Now it's no longer happening," he said.

Sabol was born and raised in Anson, and then spent 20 years teaching in a suburb of Boston. He has spent the last 20 years in Maine.

At 69, he said he has seen youths' attitudes change. "It's kind of scary from my perspective, because a lack of respect and fear is growing," he said. "The kind of activity that occurs in city areas is just as bad here."

He said, "I think now we have to do something to make a difference and hold kids a little more accountable."

The state police who respond to Franklin County, Somerset County and half of Kennebec County covered 7,826 calls for service in 1996. Last year, the same number of troopers covered 14,737 calls, Pomelow said.

"Calls have increased considerably, but our resources have stayed the same or reduced over the years," he said. "So it's much more beneficial to work with folks in the neighborhoods. They can help us help them."

Pomelow said he sees the neighborhood-watch groups becoming a trend in towns. "I think everyone's realizing that resources are stretched pretty thin, and, having these programs, they're able to fill the gaps and keep an eye out on what's going on. It's an excellent deterrent for the neighborhoods," he said.

Hartland formed a neighborhood-watch group more than a year ago. Canaan is forming one now, he said.

The neighborhood-watch group does not meet regularly, but Sabol said he encourages people to contact him at 696-3124 if they would like to join. Pomelow said residents may contact state police to be trained to form groups in other local communities.

Erin Rhoda -- 474-9534

erhoda@mainetoday.com