Create An Effective And Successful Neighborhood Watch

Oftentimes a watch group organizes around a specific problem or incident, such as an increase in burglaries or area assaults, which prompts neighbors to react. But when the crisis is taken care of or an arrest is made, group activity taper off. This response undermines the benefits of the Neighborhood Watch. A successful watch group understands that the purpose of their organization is to foster long lasting alliances and community amongst neighbors and law enforcement, creating a safer environment for our children and families.

Here are some helpful tips for a successful and enduring Neighborhood Watch:

• Hold regular meetings to help residents get to know each other and to collectively decide upon program strategies and activities.
• Consider linking with an existing organization, such as a citizens’ association, community development office, tenants’ association, or a housing authority.
• Involve everyone – young and old, single and married, renter and homeowner. Reach out to non-English speaking members of your community. Local government agencies or religious institutions for translation services and crime watch materials in order to include immigrant communities in your efforts.
• Gain Support from the police or sheriff’s office. These agencies are the major sources of information on local crime patterns, home security, other crime prevention education, and crime reporting.
• Gather the facts about crime in your neighborhood. Check police reports, do victimization surveys, and learn residents’ perceptions about crime. Accurate information can reduce fear of crime.
• Physical conditions like abandoned cars or overgrown vacant lots contribute to crime. Sponsor cleanups, encourage residents to beautify the area, and ask them to turn on outdoor lights at night.

It is essential to celebrate the success of the effort and recognize volunteers’ contributions through such events as awards, annual dinners, and parties. To help meet community needs, Neighborhood Watches can sponsor meetings that address broader issues such as drug abuse, gangs, self-protection tactics, isolation of the elderly, crime in the schools, and rape prevention.

Check out the National Crime Prevention Council website for more information on how you can make a difference in your neighborhood.