| Neighborhood Crime Watch Programs are groups of | | | | - Your neighbors can be a pillar in your home security |
| people who keep an eye out and report any | | | | program. Being an active member of a Neighborhood |
| suspicious people or activities in their local area to | | | | Crime Watch Program guarantees that both law |
| police. Depending on the group's interests, the group | | | | enforcement and your neighbors will part take in |
| can conduct regular educational programs, public | | | | maintaining your home security. |
| service training, or property identification programs. | | | | Being a member of your local crime watch program |
| Each of the group's members collaborates and | | | | does not require that you carry a billy club and |
| determines the goal and direction of its activities. | | | | impose street justice. In fact, here is a list of things |
| Just about every law enforcement agency in the U.S. | | | | that a Neighborhood Crime Watch Program is not: |
| encourages and supports such programs. Such | | | | - It is not a form of vigilantism. Group members do |
| community oriented policing helps cut back on criminal | | | | not chase the bad guys, interrupt a burglary in |
| activity and also assists neighbors to resolve issues | | | | progress, or track down perpetrators. They look out |
| that need to be addressed not necessarily from law | | | | for problems and report them to police. |
| enforcement officials. | | | | - It is not a religious cult. Neighborhood Crime Watch |
| Here is a list of reasons why you should start or join | | | | Programs allow members to get to know one |
| a Neighborhood Crime Watch program: | | | | another. Members get to know who lives in the |
| - Be being a part of this group, you will be better | | | | neighborhood, who is simply visiting, who is passing |
| informed of what is going on in your neighborhood | | | | through, or who is waiting around for the chance to |
| and the first to know when crimes occur near you. | | | | steal your Ipod. |
| - It has been statistically proven that these watch | | | | - It is not a 24 hour a day commitment. You attend |
| programs are effective in crime prevention. The | | | | a few meetings and then keep your eyes open |
| investment of your time in such programs will yield | | | | during your normal at-home activities. |
| huge returns by making your neighborhood as well as | | | | - It is not just for stay-at-home moms. Anybody is |
| your own home a safer and better place to live. | | | | allowed to join. |
| - These programs educate its group members about | | | | Keep these things in mind when you move into a |
| what security measures are effective and ineffective. | | | | new neighborhood or know somebody who has just |
| - These programs can be a good tool for dealing with | | | | moved into your neighborhood. Get to know your |
| issues such as barking dogs, loud parties, abandoned | | | | neighbors and form a bond with them. Together, as |
| vehicles, run down properties, and other issues that | | | | a community, you can help take a bite out of crime. |
| attract criminal activity. | | | | |