SEQUIM – After his home on East Fir Street was burglarized in August, 34-year-old Norman Dawley decided to fight back.

Dawley and a neighbor, 55-year-old Rosalie DiMaggio, started a block watch program in their east Sequim neighborhood.

“When I heard Norman’s story, I wanted something done,” DiMaggio said.

The two knocked on about 150 doors and convinced more than 100 people – renters, landlords and homeowners – to attend the first meeting on Sept. 10.

The pair are in the process of filing the final paperwork so that the city will buy and install block watch signs for their neighborhood.

In the course of trying to prevent crime, the two have learned more about the city and their neighbors.

“If other people open up a little bit and get to know people a little bit more, it creates a safer place,” Dawley said.