The Lehighton Police Department is being spread a bit thin this summer.

According to Police Chief Brian Biechy the department is averaging one to two arrests per week.Resident Theresa Chapman lives near the Grove on Seventh Street. She and her neighbors have enacted a neighborhood watch. The watch started last week in an effort to keep an eye on that area.Chapman has introduced herself to the patrolling officers several times."If they know us, we'll get better protection," she said Monday night at the council meeting.She asked the chief for any suggestions in running the watch."We want you to do it. We are community oriented," Biechy said.Chapman asked about the use of social media to help the watch have a better reach on the community."I'm 50/50 on social media. Sometimes people just use it to say whatever they want. It's not always true," Biechy said.Biechy also advised her to keep calling in to the call station. He also gave this advice to resident Jay Smith of that same area.Smith also had complaints about the Grove."My kids used to go to the park. Now I don't want them there. So many people with kids around there and now people don't want their kids to go to the park. Something has to be done," he said.Smith told the council a story of when he yelled at a car to slow down. The car doubled back, and the driver got out and threatened Smith."We are trying. Don't confront them. I get why, but don't. We may get sick of the calling, but keep calling," Biechy said."I'm glad you came forward. You can call 500 times, that's good. Just don't get personally involved," Vice President Scott Rehrig also told Smith.Michael Svetik, a Lehighton police officer for 22 years, said the grove is a tough area."You try to give these kids something to do to not get in trouble, then you have kids that come in and cause a problem. It's frustrating, I get it," he said. Svetik wants people to realize it's not just Lehigton. This kind of trouble is everywhere."This is the time of year I dread. Vacations are over but school hasn't started yet. Kids are bored. Once school starts up it calms down."He said police will continue to keep an eye on the area, but unless someone is caught in the act, it's tough to do anything."We could sit there for two hours and nothing," he said.The biggest reason for arrests in Lehighton this summer has been DUI and drug offenses."Heroin is the biggest problem. I don't know how it should be dealt with. Most people are incarcerated for drug offenses. In our prisons probably 80 percent are drug-related. Carbon is trying to fight the issue. Sometimes throwing people in jail isn't the answer."Svetik said the problem has spiraled out of control over the past few years.