LONGMONT, Colo. -- From a meth lab bust to a fatal stabbing, people living on Meadow Drive have seen more than their share of crime.

“There’s definitely crime in this neighborhood,” said Greg Burd, who has lived in an apartment there for seven years. “You know what? It is my business when it’s right across the street from me.”

It’s bad enough that property managers said they now have a hard time finding tenants.

So, Gary Epperson with PMP Realty is trying out a new Longmont Police program to certify his 800 rental properties “crime-free.”

“We don’t want any of the neighborhoods to be stigmatized by crime,” said Epperson. ”With this new program, it’s a one-strike-you’re-out type thing.”

In the Crime Free Mult-Unit program, he will go through an eight-hour training on how to better screen tenants, have property audits to address safety issues and update leases to state that any criminal activity on the property is grounds for eviction.

Longmont police said they got the idea from the success of the program in Arizona, where people were taking ownership of their neighborhoods.

“It seems to be a very effective program,” said Longmont Police Commander Tim Lewis. ”It’s just not the sign on the window. There’s something behind it.”

The first training session for property managers and property owners is Feb. 25, and several property management companies have already signed up.

Police said grants will be made available for property upgrades.

The crime-free designation could also lower insurance rates.