The Neighborhood Watch members are the most important part of any group. Being a Watch member is not a hard or time-consuming job. It mostly involves becoming aware of activities in your area and taking time to report them.
- Attend a presentation on Neighborhood Watch by either the Crime Prevention Officer or a trained Block Captain, thus promising to report crime.
- Cooperate and assist the Block Captain.
- Volunteer with your area Neighborhood Watch.
- Review the Neighborhood Watch pamphlets and crime prevention literature.
- Take simple crime prevention measures to avoid unnecessary crimes. Target harden your home and car by using these proven simple techniques.
- Participate in Operation Identification.
The local police or sheriff asks you and your neighbors to get together and to get to know each other. As you become more familiar with your neighbors, their cars, etc., you become more observant about what is “normal” for your neighborhood. Then, if you see someone that is out of place, or a car that is suspicious, call the police or sheriff and allow them to check it out. Neighborhood Watch is not about you taking police action, that is the job of law enforcement. It is about being a good neighbor.
Watch your neighbor’s homes and report suspicious persons in your neighborhoods to your local law enforcement agency. Report the non emergency activities to your Block Captain by phone or on a 3x5 card. These may include:
- Abandoned cars
- Graffiti
- Overgrown vacant lots, etc.
Emergencies or a crime in progress should be reported to the police or sheriff emergency line (usually 911) and then to the Block Captain. Many people don’t want to bother the police because they are afraid that it may not be a real emergency or that they may be embarrassed if their suspicions turn out to be unfounded. The police would much rather be called out to investigate than to be called after a crime has been committed. These may include:
- Someone screaming or shouting for help.
- Someone in need of medical attention.
- A person running, especially if carrying something of value.
- Anyone being forced into a vehicle.
- A person exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms.
- Persons making a quick change of vehicles.
- Burglaries, robberies, thefts, auto break-ins, etc. in progress.
- Someone looking into windows of homes or parked cars.
- Apparent drug trafficking.
- Unusual noises.
- Apparent businesses transactions conducted from a vehicle.
- Property being taken out of closed businesses or houses where no one is at home.
- Open or broken doors or windows to a home or business.
- Cars, vans, or trucks moving slowly and without lights with no apparent destination, or repeating the same action.
- A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a child, etc.
When contacting your local law enforcement agency:
- Provide them your name, address and telephone number.
- Briefly describe the event -- what happened, when, where, and who was involved.
- Tell them as soon as possible if medical assistance is needed.
- Describe the suspect: sex, race, age, height, weight, hair color, clothing, distinctive characteristics such as beard, mustache, scars, or accent.
- Tell them if weapons were involved.
- Tell the suspect’s last known direction of travel.
- Describe the vehicle if one was involved: color, make, model, year, license plate, and special features such as stickers, dents, or decals.
Be willing to serve as an acting Block Captain in the absence of your area Block Captain or to help the Block Captain with projects in your block.
Attend monthly or quarterly meetings of the group.
