How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?

Understandably, neighbors of Edward Lanphear are shaken by what he is alleged to have done.

From the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:

Edward J. Lanphear worked at a Wisconsin Rapids paper mill and shot pool at local taverns.

The Tuesday arrest of the 46-year-old Lanphear -- and accusations that he abducted two men, held them in his Saratoga home and assaulted them -- have people wondering: How well do they know their neighbors?

...Some residents have stepped up safety measures for older children -- and themselves.

[Phyllis] Brown, [56,] said times have changed since she raised her children, and not just because of this recent incident.

"The days of them getting on their bike and just running loose are gone," she said. "(Things like this) have happened in so many other places, eventually it's going to catch up with us."

Sherrie Hahn said her nieces, Samantha Whitrock, 14, and Breanna Leffel-Whitrock, 10, aren't allowed to bike on their own too far from home.

"I think twice about going anywhere by myself," said Hahn, 47, of Wisconsin Rapids. "I wouldn't want to do that. Now I would take someone with me.

..."It's going to hit this area for quite a while, because we're so used to being safe," [Hahn] said.

The Lanphear case has to be extremely disturbing for neighbors. What he is alleged to have done ripples through the community.

Years of feeling secure are wiped away in an instant. Now there's real doubt and fear.

Add the neighbors to the list of victims.