Neignborhood Watch

Due to a Number of recent Home Break-ins, looking to start a Neighborhood Watch Program. Any pointers .If you have one in place---what have been the results.

Ray:

Just have everyone get their concealed carry licenses and you'll be good to go ;)

In all seriousness though give your local law enforcement agency a call. Many departments (including the one I work for) have an officer assigned to neighborhood watch duty. It's their job to come out to neighborhoods that are interested in starting a program. We do a three meeting program in the first year.

First is a general information meeting that talks about what it is and what it isn't. There's some literature and a short presentation. It's really more of an open house.

Second is a couple weeks later where we come back and talk to those who decided they were interested and answer any questions that came up after the first meeting. At this meeting we also give the neighborhood a block watch sign that they can post up at the community entrance and formally kick off the watch.

Then we have another meeting three to four months later to see how things are going. After that we try to get around to each program once a year but we're always available to come out and talk to new people or just give a refresher.

We've found that we often get more people at the second meeting than the first because word really gets around after the police have been there and handed out some materials, hence the reason we don't start the program the first night.

In terms of the program itself it really boils down to is know your neighbors, know what's normal and what's not, and if you see something, say something.