Neighborhood Watch groups are effective in helping to fight crime according to Mark Thibodeau, District Attorney of Adams County, when he spoke to the North Adams County Neighborhood Watch Organization on Sept. 19^th.  A number of crimes have been solved in this area because of citizen information. Volunteers from Big Flats, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Sherwood and Lake Camelot attended the fall meeting at the Rome Town Hall along with Rome Police Chief Adam Grosz, Officer Lewandowski and Officer Bauer.  Mark Thibodeau explained some court procedures to the group and answered questions. By state statute, money received through the court system from felons can be used to assist crime-fighting groups like a neighborhood watch group. The district Attorney presented the North Adams County Neighborhood Watch with  $2500 to be used in their efforts to fight crime.  He recommended that this be given to the North Adams County Neighborhood Watch because a defendant who committed a series of crimes in Northern Adams County forfeited this amount.  YOU CAN HELP!  You can volunteer to be a part of your neighborhood watch by keeping an eye out for suspicious activity while you walk, bike, or drive through your own neighborhood. Neighborhood watch groups are people who are willing to be the extra eyes and ears of the local police departments. The winter meeting of the North Adams County Neighborhood Watch Organization is Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rome Town Hall. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Jeanne at 325-6244 or the Rome Police Department at 325-8020 for more information.