Neighborhood Watch: Residential Crime Prevention

Police can't be everywhere. With the recent down turn in the economy, city police departments are strapped for money. This means cuts in employees and services. Citizens are asked to step up and report crime. In major crime areas, neighborhood watches have aways played an important role in crime prevention. Now many more communities are going to form neighborhood watches.

Residents willingness to report crime is what makes the key to reducing crime. Residents can't procrastinate, twiddle their thumbs, or just assume the problem will go away. They have to be on top of reporting at any time of the day. When a resident sees something wrong or suspicious, they report it. they can't worry about what others will think about them or their effort.

Neighborhood Watch is a nationally known, highly organized, community policing program. A watch program is broke down into 10 to 15 houses with one watch captain. The captain acts as a liaison between the residents and the Police Department.

Basic Principles; Do not physically interfere in a crime situation. By doing so, you are open to injury and even law suit. Besides that you yourself would be breaking the law by taking the law into your own hands.

Trust your instinct. Call when you think it is necessary. Keep a paper tablet and pen handy. You can also have a camera inside your home for pictures.

Keep your eye open for suspicious vehicles that are cruising your neighborhood. Look for strangers going door to door. People that are looking into vehicles or being dropped off are always suspicious.

Get over the idea that you are bothering the Police, by calling them. Police prefer to know information in advance, before they come to the neighborhood. This way they know what to look for.

Call 911 to report an emergency and to report a crime in progress only. Otherwise, call the local Police at their number.

If residents fear reprisal, use hot lines to make reports. These are usually anonymous phone lines.

Have your group meet with your captain at times to go over important facts. If someone is going out of town, you can watch out for their property. If someone is handicapped, you can check on their well being.

Set up a call list to check on each other from time to time.

When you report a crime, give exact address or location, weapons being used, number of individuals, vehicle description, license plate numbers, and description of the subjects.

A Neighborhood Watch is a great way for neighbors to work together to battle crime and keep their neighborhood and friends safe.