Block party held in Southeast Fresno in hopes of cutting crime

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Police and community groups are working together to cut down on crime in Southeast Fresno.

Officers joined volunteers from Cornerstone Community Care and the H.O.P.E. Coalition to hold a block party at Lane Elementary School on Saturday. It included bounce houses and face painting for the kids, plus a band, free food and a clothing giveaway. This is the eighth community outreach of its kind this year, and they've reached an estimated 8,500 people.

"We usually target the hot spots in town where there might have been a violent crime of some sort; that's where we go," said Santiago Lujan with the H.O.P.E. Coalition.

Police say Southeast Fresno is seeing about a 6-percent decrease in violent crime and nearly 9-percent drop in property crimes compared to this same time last year.