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RICHLAND COUNTY (WACH) -- Millions of Americans spent Tuesday night out on town. The focus was not only on having fun but also on fighting crime.
 
Several Midlands communities were among more than 15,000 nationwide participating in National Night Out. The event is credited with cutting down crime in many communities including those that make up Lower Richland County. It was the areas third year observing the occasion.

“We started out three years ago and there were two neighborhoods. Tonight I have 11 here joined together. There are 28 total in the Lower Richland area and I’d like to see all 28 of them here next year,” said Jim McCauley, president of the Hickory Ridge Neighborhood Association.

Hundreds of people attended the event and did exactly was national night out was designed for; meeting and mingling with neighbors and having a little fun in the process.
It was Katrina Giles’ first year attending.

It's a lot of crime that's been going on here lately, I guess do to the economy, but I’m glad that we're able to get together that we can look out for each other as neighbors

Giles said “It's a lot of crime that's been going on here lately; I guess do to the economy, but I’m glad that we're able to get together and that we can look out for each other as neighbors.”

According to the National Association of Town Watch’s website, the group the started National Night out, more than 37 million Americans participated in the event last year.