NATCHEZ — Natchez police are increasing their presence at Carpenter Apartments following complaints from residents about loitering and other issues.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce-Arceneaux-Mathis, in whose ward the apartments are located, said she received letters from residents who were fearful for their safety at the apartments.

“There was one lady who had someone knocking on her door … and people were just (fearful), so I asked that we look into a substation and police presence there,” she said.

Arceneaux-Mathis asked the police department to look at opening a substation at the North Union property, because the apartments do not have 24-hour security or on-site management.

As a result, NPD has added a foot patrol of the building and a designated area in the lobby to make reports should the need arise, Chief Daniel White said, for the officers who work the area on their beats.

“The officer will walk in and out to make sure there isn’t anything going on when it’s not busy with other calls,” White said. “It will be only when it’s not busy, so it won’t take an officer off the street.”

Many of the issues that arise at Carpenter Apartments, White said, stem from non-residents hanging out on the premises.

“People tend to congregate there,” White said. “We took care of doing that by saying (non-residents) can’t park there for more than 15 minutes, and tenants must park in the back.

“We just want to make sure there is a police presence in the area, and officers are doing their duty by walking in and out of the building.”