Neighborhood Watch - Take a Stand Against Crime

The ABC's of Neighborhood Watch

Any community resident can join-young and old, single and married, renter and home owner.
A few concerned residents, a community organization, or a law enforcement agency can spearhead the effort to organize a Neighborhood Watch.
Members learn how to make their homes more secure, watch out for each other and the neighborhood, and report activities that raise their suspicions to the Sheriff's office.
You can form a Neighborhood Watch group around any geographical unit: a block, apartment, park, business area, public housing complex, or office.
Watch groups are not vigilantes. They are extra eyes and ears for reporting crime and helping neighbors. Neighborhood Watch helps build pride and serves as a springboard for efforts that address community concerns such as recreation for youth, child care, and affordable housing.

Getting Organized

When a group decides to form a Neighborhood Watch, it

Contacts the City's Crime Prevention office to schedule its first meeting to learn more about how Neighborhood Watch works and how to receive training in home security and reporting skills.
Selects a Block Captain who is responsible for organizing meetings and relaying information to members.
Recruits members, keeping up-to-date on new residents and making special efforts to involve the elderly, working parents, and young people.
Identifies the areas of concern specific to the Neighborhood Watch group.
Works with local government and law enforcement.

Doing Your Part

Report these incidents to the Sheriff's Department at 272-2400 and talk about the problem with your neighbors.

Someone screaming or shouting for help.
Someone looking into windows and parked cars.
Unusual noises.
Property being taken out of houses where no one is at home or closed businesses.
Cars, vans, or trucks moving slowly with no apparent destination, or without lights.
Anyone being forced into a vehicle.
A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a child.
Abandoned cars.

How to Report

Give your name and address
Briefly describe the event-what happened, when, where, and who was involved.
Describe the suspect's sex and race, age, height, weight, hair color, clothing, and distinctive characteristics such as a beard, mustache, scars or accent.
Describe the vehicle if one was involved: color, make, model, year, license plate, and special features such as stickers, dents, or decals.

Staying Active

It's an unfortunate fact that when a neighborhood crime crisis goes away, so does enthusiasm for Neighborhood Watch. Work to keep your Watch group a vital force for community well-being.

Organize regular meetings that focus on current issues such as drug abuse, "hate" or bias-motivated violence, crime in schools, child care before and after school, recreational activities for young people, and victim services.
Adopt a park or school playground. Pick up litter, repair broken equipment, paint over graffiti.
Work within your Neighborhood Watch group to start a block parent program to help children in emergency situations.
Don't forget social events that give neighbors a chance to know each other-host a block party, potluck dinner, volleyball or softball game, or picnic.

Join a Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch is one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce fear. Neighborhood Watch fights the isolation that crime both creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents, helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between law enforcement and the community they serve.

City of Palmdale

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