Neighborhood Watch in an HOA

Started by KateD2 • 6 replies • 521 views

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KateD2 (California)
Posts: 1

Posted:

Hello everyone! Wondering if anyone here has experience with running a neighborhood watch program in an hoa? Just looking to start a discussion on the subject if anyone is interested.

Because hoa's tend to be fairly "safe" places to live, we are finding recruiting volunteers for this type of program is incredibly difficult. I'm interested in hearing if anyone has had success or if anyone has modified the neighborhood watch program to fit the needs of their hoa?

Thanks!

ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420

Posted:

For liability reasons, I advise the "neighborhood watch program" to consist of one sentence, stated a few times a year in the newsletter and at board meetings:

"If you see someone in the apparent act of a crime, please call the police."

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200

Posted:

Concur with ElleN.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,060

Posted:

Neighborhood watches certainly have benefits.

However, since the issue in FL, HOAs have been discouraged from sponsoring or advertising them.

see:

HOA Neighborhood Watch Liability After Trayvon Martin from a Utah law blog

What Should HOAs Learn from the Trayvon Martin Tragedy? from HOA leader

Is a Crime Watch Committee A Good Idea for Your HOA? from a management company

However, if a group of neighbors wanted to get together and form a watch, here is a resource:

National Neighborhood Watch from the national sheriffs association

ND (PA)
Posts: 792

Posted:

What Tim said! Should be an activity run and organized by interested neighbors in conjunction with local professionals/authorities, but not something organized under the HOA "umbrella" and/or tied to the HOA in any way (no advertising/promoting, no funding, no resourcing, no committee, no reference by/from/to the HOA).

Absolutely nothing wrong with like-minded neighbors banding together to try and ensure their neighborhood is a safe and secure place for themselves, their families, and their property.

Everyone is so chicken$hit because of one bonehead a few years ago, that they instead advocate you and your neighbors do virtually nothing as a group to ensure the safety/security of your neighborhood, families, and property. Fine with me if that's how they prefer their neighborhood. And actually makes my neighborhood safer because criminals and thieves will avoid more hardened targets like my neighborhood and move on to easy targets like theirs.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I did a neighborhood watch in our HOA/neighborhood. Coordinated with the local police. Whom provided us with a sign and training/speaker. This was kept entirely SEPARATE from the HOA itself. No funding etc... You did not have to be a HOA member to be in the neighborhood watch. That meant renters, routine guests, or members could be a part of it. We had a few meetings mostly to educate people to call the POLICE and NOT the HOA when a crime happens. The HOA is NOT a "bubble" of protection.

Former HOA President

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