FORT MYERS, Fla -- Fort Myers Police say an operation to cut crime and get illegal weapons off the city streets is working. WINK first told you about 'Operation Safe Neighborhood' at the beginning of January.

Police took 26 guns off the street in the month of January. Officers seized various weapons from assault rifles, shot guns, revolvers, and several handguns. In addition, officers made 70 arrests.

Major Doug Baker says violent crime in the city is down for January and so far no homicides to report this year.

Major Baker says the officers increased contact with the community is paying off.

Major Doug Baker says, “we’re getting information even from bad guys that they're not coming out on the street bringing their guns with them, that's a big plus. But we're gonna look at this month to month. Obviously our goal is to reduce violent crime and no homicides in 08 would be a great way to do that."

Officers are working with other agencies, the DEA and the U.S. Attorney's office to monitor where the weapons seized are coming from.

We spoke with John Tobler who owns Utopia Barber Shop on MLK Boulevard when the task force first started up. Now four weeks later, he's noticing a change.

"I haven't heard about anybody being robbed lately and usually every week it seems like somebody was robbed," says Tobler.

"Right in my neighborhood where I live it's been kind of dull which is a good thing."

Tobler also believes one of the problems is that the young men in his community don't respect the police because they don't feel respected by the police.

Operation Safe Neighborhood requires officers to work different hours including some overtime. The money used for the operation comes from Project Safe Neighborhood grants and the overtime budget.