Neighborhood Watch

What is Neighborhood Watch?

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program which enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities. Neighborhood watch does not require frequent meetings; 2 per calendar year is sufficient.

The purpose of the Neighborhood Watch Program is to create an alert neighborhood by using simple crime prevention methods.

How Does It Work?

Neighbors getting to know each other and working together in a program of mutual assistance;
Citizens being aware of, and knowing how to recognize and report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods;
Implementation of crime prevention techniques, such as home security, Operation Identification, and others.

Why Neighborhood Watch?

Neighborhood Watch sends a message to potential intruders that:

Homes in your neighborhood are not easily accessible to potential burglars;
Your neighborhood is organized and actively involved in preventing crime in the area.

How To Develop the Program

Talk to your neighbors to determine their interest and willingness to attend a Neighborhood Watch function. Ask about convenient times to schedule your functions. Be sure to mention that Neighborhood Watch does not ask that anyone take any personal risk to prevent crime; and Neighborhood Watch leaves the responsibility for apprehending criminals with your local law enforcement agency.
A Block Captain and one or two assistant Block Captains will be expected for each block.
To accomplish the goals of the Neighborhood Watch Program, 50 percent participation of your block is required.
To schedule a presenter from the LPSO for your meeting, call the LPSO office at least three weeks in advance. Presentations are scheduled Monday through Friday during the day, and Monday through Thursday evenings.
For more information, click on the link before for Neighborhood Watch Program and download or print the booklet.

Neighborhood Watch groups make the community a brighter place to live by keeping an eye on one another. Watches should be proactive; about making residents aware of what is going on in the neighborhood and giving them the right information. The more you communicate, the more you care about others and others' property, and they for you. The point is to allow neighbors to get to know each other. If you do not know someone, odds are you will not notice suspicious activity.

A neighborhood watch is a "formalized way for a community of residents to be involved [in crime prevention] in a positive way, rather than being vigilantes," said Faye Warren, director of conference and training support services, National Crime Prevention Council, Washington. "With empowerment often comes an improved economy," Warren added. "Rental properties and housing values increase because people want to move into a safe community."

"Ninety-five percent of police arrests are the direct result of citizen phone calls. It's better than a dog, security system or lights." - Matt Peskin, National Association of Town Watch.