OVIEDO, Fla. — The small city of Oviedo is becoming a hub for an international crime prevention program.
Law enforcement officers from around the world will use the Oviedo Police Department to help set up crime free communities.
The program teams up apartment complexes with Oviedo police. The police department does background checks on new residents, and trains landlords on what they can do to evict residents who commit crimes.
It's being used at the Oviedo Town Centre, where Rex Alcubilla has lived for three years.
"I like it because it gives us a sense of security," said Alcubilla.
Oviedo police are not only training local landlords, Oviedo Police Sgt. Kim Mojica is also training law enforcement officers from all over the world.
"Anybody who gets involved in this has the same tools to help push the crime out of the apartment communities as well as their communities," said Mojica.
Police officers give landlords a form, which residents sign. The form lists crimes which could result in a resident's eviction.
Oviedo has three apartment complexes signed up for the program.
Orlando runs the same program and has nearly 20 complexes participating.
Since Orlando's program started last year, 200 people suspected of committing crimes have been evicted from their apartments.
Alcubilla said it's worth it to keep crime out of his community.
"I think it will cut down on crime because if people want to stay in a certain complex they might have to think twice about their actions," said Alcubilla.
Residents who are evicted for criminal activity are not allowed to live in other communities that have been designated as crime free.
WFTV
