ESCAMBIA COUNTY - People living in one local neighborhood say they're fed up with all the criminal activity going on in an empty clay pit, and they want something done about it.

People living near the south end of 52nd Avenue in Myrtle Grove say they see too much illegal activity outside their homes.

Bill Pearson tells us what neighbors want done to make their streets safer.

This wooded area near an old clay pit is at the south end of 52nd Avenue in Escambia County.

It may not look like a dangerous area, but those who live nearby say it is.

Melissa said, "Right here, we've seen drug deals go down. Vandalism over here."

We spoke with two women who live near the intersection of 52nd and Eaton Road.

Both are so worried about crime here they asked us not to show their face.

Both women say there was an attempted rape in the clay pit near their home back on Monday night.

Melissa said, "Well, we thought crime scene is going to show up and do something. Nobody ever showed up. Cop disappeared, never seen another cop in the neighborhood all night long."

The neighbors say they have called law enforcement for help several times for a variety of reasons.

Amy said, "You can smell weed a lot of the times coming from there. We've got a gentleman in a truck that parks there and shoots drugs up over there. I've seen them smoke cocaine over there."

But so far, nothing has changed.

Melissa said, "When your calls go unanswered, you feel like you're kinda helpless, you know?"

There's a sense in the neighborhood that if law enforcement does not step up its patrols near this old clay pit, the next crime could be deadly.

Melissa said, "It could have been a murder. The only thing that stopped it was a woman fighting this person off. A strong-willed woman is very hard to beat."

Reporting in Escambia County, Bill Pearson, Channel Three News.

A sheriff's office spokesman says they have no record of a reported rape case near the end of 52nd Avenue.

A deputy did tell us people who call crime reports in must be willing to leave contact names and phone numbers. Otherwise, on-duty deputies will respond to other emergencies first.Myrtle Grove "Clay Pit" Makes Neighbors Nervous