ST. ALBANS, Vt. -- Neighbors and business owners in St. Albans are fighting back against an increase in violent crime in the community.

St. Albans police said a 23-year-old man was stabbed in the left arm Tuesday evening near Stowell Street, the latest in a string of violence in the city.

Police said drugs, gangs and violent behavior are on the rise and the number of assaults and robberies dramatically jumped more than 100 percent in the city since 2000.

Kris Jarrett helped organize a Business Watch Program. The group of local business owners have been on the lookout for suspicious activity.

Jarrett said the group is helping to solve a problem that he believes won't disappear without some work.

"It is tightly entrenched in our community, the drug culture is here, gang-like activity is here and it's not going to go away with one raid, it's going to take a long-term community solution," Jarrett said.