How to Organize a Neighborhood Crime and Safety Watch System

With children getting out of school and the summer soon to be in full fling it's become more and more important for parents to be aware of their surroundings - and how the neighborhood can help in making a safe environment for all. Read on for some tips on how to organize a Neighborhood Crime and Safety Watch System for your neighborhood to create a safe and secure area for your family and children to enjoy during the summer months!

The first thing you need to do is get to know your neighbors. This may seem like a rather silly suggestion, but in today's world of shift workers and of flexible work schedules it's possible to go days without knowing who your neighbors are. Arrange with a local community resource such as a citizens' association or community development group to have a general meeting at a community center to make everyone aware of who lives in their area and how they can all band together to make their area safer.

The local police station will be eager to help out an area to organize a Neighborhood Watch with fliers and possibly sending officers to a meeting to instruct neighbors what to be aware of - if a stranger or a strange vehicle suddenly appears on the street near a group of children or what sort of suspicious behavior would warrant calling the police in. They can also provide accurate crime statistics for the area and help children become more comfortable with contacting a policeman if they need to. Many children never come in contact with the police except in a negative situation and a regular presence at your Neighborhood Watch meetings of a local representative can help alleviate fears of the police as well as make them more comfortable with dealing with law enforcement overall and allow them to ask questions about the law and the legal system.

Emphasize that everyone can be a vital part of a Neighborhood Watch community. Seniors can help by monitoring the streets and reporting any suspicious activity around the houses of residents who have gone on vacation or to help provide safe houses for children who may feel threatened and can't make it all of the way home. Many communities have special signs that can be placed in the front windows of houses that signal to children that it is a "safe house"; a place where they can come for help where someone is always present. Many seniors welcome the chance to keep being part of a living, thriving community and doing their part in keeping everyone safe!

Homemakers can help monitor groups of children coming home from the local bus stop and offer a safe haven for those who may be going home to an empty house, even for a short while. They can also keep an eye out for oddities in the area such as a different car appearing to pick up a child from the bus stop or a child suddenly disappearing from the area. Everyone has something to offer their community when it comes to helping make the area secure and safe!

Arrange a monthly meeting where you can exchange phone numbers and discuss past and upcoming area events such as an area garage sale or a block party. These events help build a sense of community and also familiarize the residents with each other so that an intruder will stick out like a sore thumb. You can also arrange clean-up events to make public areas more accessible to children, such as neighborhood parks and playgrounds that may have fallen into disrepair or have been vandalized.

You can also create a special phone list not only to alert members of upcoming meetings but also to use in case of an emergency, such as an Amber Alert where the Neighborhood Watch needs to be informed immediately and everyone placed on alert. While some residents may at first not be eager to hand out their phone number be sure to assure them that it will only be used to keep them informed of events and emergencies.

The National Crime Prevention Council can help provide sample fliers and a checklist for you to start out with along with suggestions for local groups and where to go for help both organizing the group and maintaining it.

A Neighborhood Crime and Safety Watch System can take only a few hours to set up but can be a great help in making your area safer for residents and for children seeking a safe place to spend their summer holidays. Consider contacting your neighbors and local law enforcement to take the first steps in setting up a group for your community and make everyone safer!