neighborhood watch
DESCRIPTION
Neighborhood Watch. Officer Wes Cooper [email protected] 817-249-6077 M-F 7a to 3p Officer Doug Byrd [email protected] 817-249-2752x6111 M-F 8a to 4p. Goals. Discuss the importance of Neighborhood Watch Discuss the Elements of Starting a Neighborhood Watch - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Neighborhood Watch
Officer Wes [email protected] M-F 7a to 3p
Officer Doug [email protected]
817-249-2752x6111 M-F 8a to 4p
Goals
• Discuss the importance of Neighborhood Watch
• Discuss the Elements of Starting a Neighborhood Watch
• Discuss what the Police Department can do for you.
Meeting Discussion
• What do you hope to gain from this meeting?• Are you wanting to be a part of the solution?– Big Part?– Small Part?
• Do you know your Neighbor?• Is your Neighbor here?
What is important
• Felling a sense of security while in your Neighborhood.
• Resale value of your home.• Getting people to care about there
Neighborhood when things are good.
How do we help the important things?
• Neighborhood cohesion – neighbors who know and look out for each other – is among the strongest features of safer neighborhoods, according to researchers at Harvard University.
•WHAT IS THE BEST Neighborhood Watch Program ?
Sittin on the Porch
Whoa!! ANDY we don’t have a porch!
•Know your Neighbor.•Be a nosey Neighbor.
R U willin 2 do that?
WARNING • The following information is boring and
brought to you by the National Crime Prevention Counsel.
• IF you need to stand so that you don’t fall asleep that is OK. This is not a formal class.
The BenefitsNeighborhood Watch • Unites the community and increases
neighborhood cohesion Did we cover that?
• Reduces fear of crime in the community • Improves crime reporting by citizens• Increases surveillance in the community – Nosey Neighbor
• Prevents and reduces crime • Enhances homeland security
The Benefits (cont.)Studies show Neighborhood Watch is effectivebecause• It brings neighbors together around a common
cause – safety and security. • It provides basic skills to all members on
preventing crime and reporting suspicious activity or crimes.
• It builds a base for correcting neighborhood problems.
• It works well with other civic activities.
OK Back to…..
• Do you want to do a little
• …… or do a lot.
• Both are OK as long as you DO
Basic Components• Planning committee, chair/coordinator,
section leader• Communications: email, phone tree,
meetings, special outreach, and partnering with other neighborhood groups
• Neighborhood Watch signs on the street and in windows
• Partnership with local law enforcement
How To Start Neighborhood Watch
• Every community resident can and should join – young or old, single or married, renter or home owner, business or household.
• Identify different tasks that different residents can take on. There should be roles for everyone who wants to help.
How To Start Neighborhood Watch (cont.)
• Involve local law enforcement – ( done that)
• Arrange a kickoff meeting – (we are here are we not?)
• Identify the Neighborhood• Select leaders• Train residents in Neighborhood Watch
basics and in observation and reporting
Identify the Neighborhood
Divided and Conquer
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Leadership• Select leaders (chair/coordinator, section
leaders, committee chairs) with an eye toward interest, “people skills,” and commitment.
• Duties of chair/coordinator: Works to sustain and expand program; maintains current list of participants, arranges training, obtains crime prevention materials, coordinates with police and outside partners.
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Leadership (cont.)
Leaders should not serve forever. Rotateleadership periodically.• Even the most energetic and dedicated
leaders lose stamina
The Chair
Who wants it?
Section Leader
• Responsible for their section of the neighborhood.• Responsibilities– Knowing what is “normal” for your section– Documenting what cars belong to what house– Documenting who is at home during the day
• Basically knowing your neighbors
– Being a source of information for residents in your section– Maintaining a contact list for people in your section
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Section Leader• Relays information to members• Recruits seniors and youth • Convenes and chairs block meetings• Recruits newcomers • Coordinates check-ins on shut-in residents• Helps identify block problems • Notifies chair/coordinator of changes in
resident information
Divided and Conquer
• Leader for purple• Leader for blue• Leader for green• Leader for yellow
• The chair can also be a section leader but not recommend
Now that is done…
What does a Neighborhood Watch
DO!
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How To Start Neighborhood Watch (cont.)• Assess neighborhood needs• Build participation• Maintain energy • Celebrate with your neighbors
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Meetings
– Make it a team effort. Share concerns.– Decide to address one or two important issues to
start. – Ask for volunteers and assign tasks. – Agree on a meeting schedule.
Now the LEGAL Stuff!
•Watch groups are not
vigilantes. They are extra eyes and ears for reporting crime and extra hands for helping neighbors.
Lesson ONE Observation
• Think like a COP!–In God we trust…..•All others we investigate!
Lesson Two Observation
• Don’t be afraid to go with your gut!!–If you think something is wrong.• IT is … Call the Police
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Observation (cont.)
• Neighbors should look and listen for…– Someone screaming or shouting for help– Someone looking into windows and parked cars – Unusual noises– Property being taken from houses where no one is
at home– Cars, vans, or trucks moving slowly with no
apparent destination, or with no lights on
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Observation (cont.)
• Neighbors should also look for…– Anyone being forced into a vehicle – A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a
child– Abandoned cars– Any unusual activity in businesses, alleys, isolated
areas, and notorious problem spots in your neighborhood
Guess WHAT !!!!
• Calling the police does not cost you anything extra.
• Calling the police gets an officer to come to your neighborhood.
• Calling the police keeps us from driving around in circles.
• Calling the police just save that guy from getting a speeding ticket.
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Reporting Crime• Stay calm.• It is important not to panic even though you
might be scared. • Call the police immediately!• On the phone, give the police the most
important information first – the location of the crime, the type of crime, whether there are injuries, where the criminal went, etc.
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Reporting Crime (cont.)• Write down what you saw and heard
IMMEDIATELY!• Tell the police what happened, when,
where, and who was involved.• Describe the suspect: sex, race, age, height,
weight, hair color, distinctive characteristics (facial hair, scars, tattoos, accent, etc.).
• Describe any vehicle involved: color, make, model, year, license plate, and special features: stickers, dents, or decals, as well as direction of travel from the crime scene.
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Reporting Crime (cont.)• You may be asked to make a complaint or
testify in court. Remember, if you don’t help the police, the criminal might hurt someone else.
• The police may ask you to attend a lineup or look through collections of “mug shots” to try to identify the person you saw commit the crime.
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Questions and Answers