Steve Mimbs Chief of Police

Crime Prevention Community Relations Division

Jane Meier

Neighborhood Watch First Meeting

What is a Neighborhood Watch?

A voluntary program

organized by concerned citizens to

reduce crime and improve

living conditions in their

communities.

Watch Groups• Are extra and for

reporting crime and suspicious behavior to law enforcement.

it’s one of the most effective and it’s one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime.least costly ways to prevent crime.

A criminal’s job gets a lot tougher in a neighborhood where people are watching out for each other.

•Phone Tree

•Citizens Patrol

•Improving Conditions

•Crime Prevention Training

Protecting Your Home

Home Security

Watch Groups

“Broken Window” theory

Neighborhoods that neglect minor signs of decay and disorder are opening the door to crime.

One un-repaired broken window is a signal that no one cares

Neighborhood Watch

Citizen Crime Watch

Block Watch

Home Alert

Crime Watchers

Neighborhood Crime Watch

???

? ?

Get To Know Your Neighbors

Neighbors are often the first to spot problems

Getting Started

•Form a planning committee

•Inform law enforcement

•Identify any problems

•Invite neighbors

•Meeting Agenda

First “Watch” Meeting

Introductions

Explanation of NW

Attendance / Data

Watch Coordinator

Block Captains

NW Chairperson

• Set up initial meeting

• Obtain block captains and set up data files

• Liaison between neighborhood and law enforcement

• Disseminate information to Block Captains

• Schedule location for meetings

• Welcome new neighbors and tell them about NW

• Keep master list of participants and emergency contact

Block Captains

•The Block Captain is responsible for a designated area

•Encourage neighborhood participation

•Disseminate information

•Assist Neighborhood Watch chairperson

•Welcome new neighbors

The duties of the block captain will offer very little change in lifestyle for the citizen involved. Rather, it will provide a means for meeting your neighbors as well as a vehicle for making your

community a safer place to live.

Benefits of a Neighborhood Watch Program

•Education and Training by Law Enforcement

•Unites the Community

• Reduces the Risk of Being a Crime Victim

•Unites the Community and increases neighborhood cohesion

•Looking Out for Each Other

•Prevents and Reduces Crime

•Reduces fear of Crime in the Community

•Improves crime reporting by citizens

•Greater Access to Criminal Activity Information

The “Watch” Meetings

•Suspicious people

•Suspicious vehicles

•Suspicious activity

•Neighborhood restoration

•How to report a crime

•Protecting Your Home

•Protecting Your Vehicle

•Lighting / Landscaping

•Identity Theft

•Personal Safety

Training and Education

Questions ???????