Neighborhood watch groups can help to prevent crime in your neighborhood.You need interested neighbors who are willing to keep an eye out for suspicious activity in order to set up a Neighborhood Watch.A successful Neighborhood Watch community requires time and dedication, as well as support from your neighbors and local law enforcement.
Step 1: If you want to start a Neighborhood Watch, ask your neighbors.
If there have been recent crimes in your area, interest is high.Your friends and neighbors should know that the majority of crimes in the US are property crimes and that a Neighborhood Watch is the best way to fight them.
Step 2: Further interest can be determined by door-to-door campaigning.
Information about recent crime in your area should be gathered.Speak to other neighbors, inform them of the facts, and ask them about their interest in participating in a Neighborhood Watch.A Neighborhood Watch meeting is held at a central gathering point.Tell your neighbors that there are many ways to participate, from being a window watcher to block captain.Everyone is able to help.Ask new members if there are any more crimes they want to address.
Step 3: Get in touch with local law enforcement.
Any Neighborhood Watch that is managed and composed of your community members will operate with the help and supervision of the police.If a different or increased Neighborhood Watch structure is needed, the Sheriff's Office should assign a Crime Prevention Officer.Local law enforcement and citizens need to understand each other for a Neighborhood Watch to be successful.Sometimes local law enforcement can be concerned with city- or even region-wide crimes, so keep that in mind when starting your Neighborhood Watch program.Ask your local law enforcement how they can help you.
Step 4: Take a picture of the area.
An accurate map of the area can be created with the help of law enforcement.If you want to highlight houses that are interested in being involved, you should map out all of the houses in your neighborhood.Make sure your Neighborhood Watch is large enough to deal with the crimes your neighborhood is concerned about.You should not share your map with anyone outside of your neighborhood.If you don't have enough interest, focus on gathering more people.The strength of a Neighborhood Watch lies in the number of eyes and ears that are working together.
Step 5: Establish your neighborhood watch group.
If your neighborhood is large, you might want to consider appointing co-coordinators.They are in charge of communicating with local law enforcement and developing meaningful projects that are beneficial for the community.
Step 6: Block captains should be appointed by Neighborhood Watch.
Each block should have a captain.Neighborhood Watch members who are active in your community are more likely to be block captains.Block captains are responsible for recruiting new members, updating the membership list, and participating in leadership meetings.
Step 7: There is a Neighborhood Watch meeting.
Local law enforcement and your neighbors should meet to discuss how to start a Neighborhood Watch.Introduce the block captains.Explain how the Neighborhood Watch will address the crimes you wish to address.Everyone should be given their contact information.Local law enforcement should answer questions about crime and give information about police procedures.Your volunteers should never put themselves in harm's way if you remind them that a Neighborhood Watch is not a group of criminals.
Step 8: Train phone tree volunteers.
Each citizen is connected to two other citizens by a phone tree.If a citizen sees a potential crime, they can call their two phone numbers and send the message quickly and efficiently along the phone tree chain.Make sure to write down all relevant information, including name, address, phone number, and email, when you download and print out the phone tree templates on the internet.It is important to only pass on essential, actionable information during phone tree calls.In certain situations, like life-threatening crimes or the presence of particularly dangerous criminals, teach your volunteers to call the police before calling the phone tree.Setting up an email tree is an alternative method of passing on less pressing information if you live in a tech savvy community.
Step 9: The starter kit should be ordered.
Check with your Sheriff's Office to see if you can get materials from the city that has their own Neighborhood Watch materials.You can get a free starter kit from the National Sheriffs Association or other national Neighborhood Watch Organizations.Metal or plastic road signs, home window decals, and magnetic car signs are included in starter kits.Neighborhood watch signs are an important way to deter criminals.
Step 10: Make sure you keep in touch with law enforcement.
The Sheriff's Office should assign a Crime Prevention Officer to your Neighborhood Watch Unit.To make sure the officer is up to date on all crimes in the neighborhood, have your coordinators meet with him on a regular basis.If relevant, you can have your Crime Prevention Officer attend your regular Neighborhood Watch meetings to brief the citizens on your current crime situation.
Step 11: Monthly leadership meetings are scheduled.
Make sure your block captains meet regularly to make sure everyone is on the same page.Evaluate current initiatives and come up with new ideas.Leadership officers should prepare for the general Neighborhood Watch meeting at relevant leadership meetings.If your Neighborhood Watch doesn't want your Crime Prevention Officer to attend general meetings, you can invite him to your leadership meetings.
Step 12: The general meetings should be held quarterly.
Keep your Neighborhood Watch group active by creating a social gathering place for neighbors to come together and discuss crime prevention strategies.The meeting times should be kept short.Your neighbors should never put themselves in harm's way, so always end every Neighborhood Watch meeting with a reminder.
Step 13: As challenges arise, tackle them.
New challenges may replace your security concerns over time.Neighborhood Watches should be flexible in order to best address the needs of the community.Neighborhood improvement projects can help remove physical conditions, like abandoned cars or overgrown lots, that make it easier for crime to occur.