| Every law enforcement agency in the country | | | | safety in the neighborhood. These programs are also |
| encourages and supports neighborhood watch | | | | effective tools for dealing with non-criminal behaviors |
| programs as a way to reduce crime. By stopping | | | | that might attract criminals or create discord |
| crime before it takes place, such programs make | | | | between neighbors, such as barking dogs, loud |
| their jobs a lot easier. Neighborhood Watch groups | | | | parties, rundown properties, or abandoned vehicles. |
| give you the means to take a proactive, rather than | | | | Being a member of a group does not require you to |
| reactive, approach to neighborhood safety, making | | | | impose street justice. In fact, watch groups are not |
| an effort to stop crimes before they are committed | | | | a form of vigilantism. Neighborhood Watch programs |
| rather than reacting to them once they've already | | | | should be seen as a crime prevention method, not as |
| occurred. One of the best ways for homeowners to | | | | a license to chase the bad guys, stop a crime in |
| collectively improve their home security is by | | | | progress, or hunt down the suspects. Being an active |
| organizing a neighborhood watch. | | | | member of a Neighborhood Crime Watch community |
| Many areas with these groups also put up signs | | | | means that law enforcement and your neighbors will |
| around the neighborhood advertising this fact, which | | | | keep an eye on your property, and you will do the |
| can further reduce the crime rate by letting potential | | | | same for your neighbors. By yourself, you can't be |
| criminals know they are being watched. If the | | | | home all the time, but there is almost never a time |
| occupants of your neighborhood tend to keep to | | | | that the entire neighborhood is empty. If you see |
| themselves, they may not notice if a burglar is | | | | something suspicious, call 911. Do not rush outside to |
| prowling around your home. The separation between | | | | confront a potential burglar in the act. Don't be afraid |
| neighbors provides the anonymity necessary for | | | | to call the police if you think something is going on, |
| burglars to break in without people asking questions. | | | | whether you are a Neighborhood Watch member or |
| The more visible your group is, the more effective it | | | | not. |
| will be. Neighborhood crime prevention associations | | | | By joining or starting a Neighborhood Watch program, |
| won't cost you a dime, and can lower the crime rate | | | | you will become better informed about what's going |
| in your area. | | | | on in your neighborhood. Often, neighborhood watch |
| Each neighborhood watch group determines the goal | | | | members are the first to know about crimes |
| and direction of its own activities. A neighborhood | | | | occurring in or near the neighborhood. Start an email |
| watch is based on a commitment to keeping an eye | | | | list so you can keep neighbors updated on recent |
| on your neighbor's property and reporting suspicious | | | | activities. You can use this list to announce meetings, |
| people or activities to the police, but it can be much | | | | warn of recent crimes, or spread the description of |
| more than this. For example, the group can conduct | | | | suspicious people who have been lurking around the |
| educational programs, meet to discuss local issues, or | | | | neighborhood. Communication is key for the success |
| bring in security experts to discuss ways to improve | | | | of any neighborhood watch program. |