Holmes Beach is a safe community compared to other places in the Bay area.

Over the last year, however, crime has more than doubled. And so, the Holmes Beach Police Department wants to implement a neighborhood watch.

Bill Rouse, who has lived in the Holmes Beach neighborhood for 14 years, said he has recently seen a lot of new faces because of the week- and month-long rentals.

"We are a resort area," Rouse said. "So, every week, we have new neighbors. I mean, there are a few year-round ones."

Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer said the lack of community and an increase in tourists has led to more crime in the city. Home burglaries have more than doubled in 2014 — going from 13 to 31.

"We have 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles that drive onto this island daily," Tokajer said. "That's a lot of cars coming through, and not everybody is a desirable citizen."

The crime spike has prompted Tami Spyker, the president of the West Bradenton Crime Watch, to expand her program to Holmes Beach.

"The training program will have meetings for them to go to," Spyker said, adding that residents will learn how to call things into the police department, what to look form and how to properly get a good description in the event of a crime.

Spyker said some people shy away from neighborhood watches because they think there is patrolling involved. However, patrolling is actually against policy.

"Without the, the police have their hands tied," Spyker said. "They can do the best, but they can't have officers on every corner."

City officials want to get a group together and are asking volunteers to call the police station. Rouse said he is ready to step up to the plate.

"We would go see how it works and what can be done," Rouse said. "We want to protect our community, too."

Spyker said the area of West Bradenton where a neighborhood watch is in place has seen a decrease in crime by about 24 percent.

The Holmes Beach Police Department will hold another meeting during the second week of April to discuss the neighborhood watch. The program is free.