Some Valley apartment managers are working with local police to get rid of shady tenants. It's part of a new program by Desert Hot Springs Police called crime free multi-housing that started Thursday.
They have to attend two eight-hour sessions and then hold an onsite meeting that will include police and tenants. Once they've done this, they will receive law enforcement certification.
"We do not want crime. I live on site. My kids live there. I get on the same page because I also live there like everybody else," said Sonia Espericueta, who manages Arroyo De Paz Apartments on Two Bunch Palms Trail.
Espericueta is hoping this program will help landlords in the area become stricter on rental criteria.
"Once people know you're more tough about criteria and selection, they do tend to go away," she said about how it would help eliminate tenants involved in crime.
About 30 landlords attended the first session at Tedesco Park Resource Center Thursday.
Property managers and owners learned how to spot gang activity, drugs, and other crime. They also discussed eviction.
Desert Hot Springs Police are hoping the collaborative effort with property managers will help keep the community safer.
Jim Knabb, Desert Hot Springs Police Community Resource Specialist, said other cities have similar programs.
"People are getting evicted so they go to a city that doesn't have crime free multi-housing. We don't want that element here," he said.
Alina Rodriguez, with the Apartment Association Greater Inland Empire, said the program will also help tenants.
"You get the one bad element in and (other) residents there won't say anything because they're afraid and they'll just up and leave," she said.
Rodriguez said apartment crime has gotten worse with the economy.
"The market is saturated. Vacancies are high. Property manager(s) are under tremendous pressure to fill vacancies so their criteria gets laxed."
Rodriguez also said tenants, who notice crime in their apartment community, should get together with neighbors and tell management. Strength in numbers is usually more effective. If a tenant feels like management isn't taking action, Rodriguez suggests reporting the problem to the County's Fair Housing Council.
