Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch,
Town Watch, Apartment Watch,
Crime Watch -- no matter what
it's called, this is one of the
most effective and least costly
answers to crime. Watch groups
are a foundation of community
crime prevention, they can be a
stepping stone to community
revitalization.
Phase One: Getting Started --
Meetings, Block Captains, and
Maps
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Form a small planning
committee of neighbors to
discuss needs, the level of
interest, possible
challenges, and the Watch
concept. |
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Contact the Rockton Police,
to discuss Neighborhood
Watch and local crime
problems. Invite a law
enforcement officer to
attend your meeting.
|
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Publicize your meeting at
least one week in advance
with door-to-door fliers and
follow up with phone calls
the day before. |
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Select a meeting place that
is accessible to people with
disabilities. |
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Hold an initial meeting to
gauge neighbors' interest;
establish purpose of
program; and begin to
identify issues that need to
be addressed. Stress that a
Watch group is an
association of neighbors who
look out for each other's
families and property, alert
the police to any suspicious
activities or crime in
progress, and work together
to make their community a
safer and better place to
live. |
Phase Two: When the neighborhood
decides to adopt the Watch idea
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Elect a chairperson.
|
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Ask for block captain
volunteers who are
responsible for relaying
information to members on
their block, keeping
up-to-date information on
residents, and making
special efforts to involve
the elderly, working
parents, and young people.
Block captains also can
serve as liaisons between
the neighborhood and the
police and communicate
information about meetings
and crime incidents to all
residents. |
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Establish a regular means of
communicating with Watch
members—e.g., newsletter,
telephone tree, e-mall, fax,
etc. |
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Prepare a neighborhood map
showing names, addresses,
and phone numbers of
participating households and
distribute to members. Block
captains keep this map up to
date, contacting newcomers
to the neighborhood and
rechecking occasionally with
ongoing participants.
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With guidance from a law
enforcement agency, the Watch
trains its members in home
security techniques, observation
skills, and crime reporting.
Residents also learn about the
types of crime that affect the
area.
If you are ready to post
Neighborhood Watch signs, check
with law enforcement to see if
they have such eligibility
requirements as number of houses
that participate in the program.
Law enforcement may also be able
to provide your program with
signs. If not, they can probably
tell you where you can order
them.
Organizers and block captains
must emphasize that Watch groups
are not vigilantes and do not
assume the role of the police.
They only ask neighbors to be
alert, observant, and caring—and
to report suspicious activity or
crimes immediately to the
police.
The Watch concept is adaptable.
There are Park Watches,
Apartment Watches, Window
Watches, Boat Watches, School
Watches, Realtor Watches,
Utility Watches, and Business
Watches. A Watch can be
organized around any geographic
unit.
Tips for Success
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Hold regular meetings to
help residents get to know
each other and to
collectively decide upon
program strategies and
activities. |
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Consider linking with an
existing organization, such
as a citizens' association,
community development
office, tenants'
association, housing
authority. |
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Canvas door-to-door to
recruit members.
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Involve everyone -- young
and old, single and married,
renter and homeowner.
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Gain support from the police
or sheriffs' office. This is
critical to a Watch group's
credibility. These agencies
are the major sources of
information on local crime
patterns, home security,
other crime prevention
education, and crime
reporting. |
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Get the information out
quickly. Share all kinds of
news -- quash rumors.
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Gather the facts about crime
in your neighborhood. Check
police reports, do
victimization surveys, and
learn residents' perceptions
about crime. Often
residents' opinions are not
supported by facts, and
accurate information can
reduce fear of crime.
|
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Physical conditions like
abandoned cars or overgrown
vacant lots contribute to
crime. Sponsor cleanups,
encourage residents to
beautify the area, and ask
them to turn on outdoor
lights at night.
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It's essential to celebrate the
success of the effort and
recognize volunteers'
contributions through such
events as awards, annual
dinners, and parties. To help
meet community needs,
Neighborhood Watches can sponsor
meetings that address broader
issues such as drug abuse,
gangs, self-protection tactics,
isolation of the elderly, crime
in the schools, and rape
prevention.
Don't forget events like
National Night Out or a potluck
dinner that gives neighbors a
chance to get together. For
more information, please contact
your assigned RPD beat officer.
