ONE OF THE COMMON threads associated with discussions on youth problems and gang crime in the Shenango Valley is: Kids need something to do.

That was mentioned by youngsters interviewed during a recent meeting to organize a block watch program in the Musser School area of Sharon. It was also a key point of a story focused on the ERASE Youth Basketball League on The Herald sports pages.

But is providing something for kids to do really the major problem?

The basketball league plays on Saturdays during the day. While it does provide some structure and mentoring for the youngsters, the big problems in our neighborhoods come late at night. Obviously, basketball may steer some of the youngsters in the right direction and convince them not to participate in night-time shenanigans, but it doesn’t really solve the overall problem.

Roving groups of youths late at night in parts of Sharon and Farrell are a huge problem. And while some youngsters feel they really aren’t doing anything wrong, large gatherings of kids can lead to trouble — everything from disturbing the peace with loud talking and music to fights or vandalism.

It’s even worse with groups of young adults when fights have evolved into gun- or knife-play.

Unfortunately, some parents are no help. Many of these youngsters who roam at night are coming from broken homes or have very little parental control. For example, four youngsters were arrested recently at 1 a.m. for violating curfew in Sharon. Two boys were from Sharon, two girls from Hermitage.

The police had trouble locating their parents and finally released the youths to other family members.

While we understand that some parents must work at night to support their families, it creates serious problems with undisciplined boys or girls. They shouldn’t be out late at night, where peer pressure often results in unruly behavior. And remember: Violating curfew is a crime.

Organizing block watches is a start in the right direction in many neighborhoods. Neighbors looking out for neighbors is always a good thing.

Having people on watch to protect neighborhoods, can help deter a lot of problems. When a group of youngsters after curfew comes into an area, the police can respond immediately if notified. If there is vandalism or other crime, it can be dealt with quickly when people help authorities.

But neighbors helping neighbors can go even farther than that. If a single mother needs to work until 1 or 2 in the morning, is there a neighbor willing to keep an eye on a teenage son or daughter? Are there family members who can help?

We have local social programs geared at curbing youth crime. But is the tax money we pump into these programs really paying off?

A “March on Crime” is being organized to bring focus to such problems and been scheduled May 27 through the ERASE Anti-Drug Coalition.

But once again, is this really a deterrent to anything? The march is at 6 p.m.