Belmont is a small city of approximately 15,000 residents, located just west of Charlotte in Gaston County, North Carolina.  Among the problems associated with local prostitution, there have been cases of sex buyers being robbed. In an effort to reduce prostitution activity in the city, the Belmont Police Department has conducted at least one street-level reverse sting. The operation was conducted in October 1998, and resulted in the arrest of multiple sex buyers. While some offenders’ names were publicized in a local newspaper, it is unclear if police formally released the information to the public.  Neighborhood watch groups have met with local hotels to formally discuss and seek solutions to prostitution in the community.