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GREENSBORO — A four-month police project to address quality-of-life issues along the Randleman Road corridor led to 171 arrests and enhanced efforts to reduce crime in the area, according to Greensboro police.

Police launched the Randleman Road Project after the April 12 killing of Carlton Smith, 30, in the parking lot of the former Sugar Bare Lost Dimensions strip club, now called the Bare Villa, at 510 Farragut St.

The city considered trying to close the club through a nuisance abatement court case. However, a lack of evidence prompted police to instead address issues that typically lead to violent crime.

Their targets: drugs, prostitution, street-level crime and clubs that merchants believed created problems.

“We wanted to make the people who worked, live and own businesses there feel safer in respect to quality of life,” said Capt. Chris Walker, who orchestrated the plan that launched in May.

Steps taken by police included:

* Increased enforcement efforts, especially at peak times. More officers worked near dance and strip clubs, conducted drug and prostitution stings, and enforced traffic laws.

* Fugitive roundup operations. Officers targeted wanted fugitives who were known to frequent the area and arrested 171 people, 65 of whom were wanted fugitives.

* Improved community relations. Officers continued attending meetings with the Randleman Road Area Business Association, and they talked to merchants about reducing late-night loitering and improving conditions at extended-stay motels in the area.

In all, prostitution cases dropped from seven in May to one in August. Narcotics violations decreased from 17 in May to nine in August.

Some offenses — assault, burglary, larceny and robbery — fluctuated monthly. Police saw increases in shoplifting cases, which typically lead to quick arrests, and burglary cases, a citywide trend.

The area reported less than 10 cases in each of those crime categories through the end of August.

Walker said another factor in the reduction of crime is the installation of a 6-foot privacy fence between the strip club’s parking lot and the Budget Inn next door on Farragut Street.

“(The fence) has changed the dynamics of that place and has made it better,” Walker said. “We don’t have the consistent pass-through traffic between the motel and club.

“There are children and low-income families that live in that motel, and I think it creates a safer environment by walling off a sexually oriented business.”

In general, merchants are pleased with the plan and are constantly working to reduce crime in the area, said Wayne Willard of the Randleman Road business association.

“The police department has worked with us by coming back and addressing problems with prostitution and drug dealing,” Willard said.

“You can’t stop it 100 percent, but we have brought it down to where the percentage of crimes are down more than in some areas of Greensboro.”

Although the improvements are welcomed, Walker said, the challenge will remain to stay on top of the issues to ensure things don’t get out of hand. “You can weed out a garden ... but if you don’t stay on it, the weeds will grow back,” he said.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com