What is Neighborhood Watch?

Neighborhood Watch is not a vigilante program. It doesn't give people the authority to act like law enforcement officers, take risks or try to be heroes. And it's not an excuse to poke your nose in other people's business. It is an obligation to look out for each other as neighbors and to inform law enforcement whenever something is going on that seems to require the help or intervention of law enforcement officers.

Neighborhood Watch is based on this concept of cooperation, and nationwide statistics prove that it works. When citizens take positive steps to secure their own property and neighbors learn how to report suspicious activity around their homes, burglary and other related crimes decrease dramatically. Would be thieves look for easier neighborhoods...they too are likely to be observed and get caught in our Town.

The prevention of crime--particularly crime involving residential neighborhoods--is a responsibility that must be shared equally by the Sheriff's Office and the private citizens. The fact is, the impact on crime prevention by the Sheriff's Office alone is minimal when compared with the power of private citizens and the Sheriff's Office working together.

Neighborhood Watch asks you to be more aware of what's happening around you. Because you spend much more time in your neighborhood than a law enforcement officer ever could, you can play an important role in preventing crime just by keeping your eyes and ears open for anything suspicious, watching out for those things when the law enforcement officer can't be there.

What would you do if you saw a strange man climbing in your neighbor's window? Wheeling a bicycle out of their garage? Stealing valuables out of a parked car? By staying alert and promptly reporting these sorts of activities, you could help prevent such crimes and make your neighborhood a safer place to live.

When you join Neighborhood Watch, you won't be asked to pay dues, purchase materials or attend lots of meetings. Two meetings, each about an hour long, is all it takes to get an area watch group started. These are informal get-togethers, usually held right in the neighborhood where you live. After that, it's simply a matter of watching out for your neighborhood and calling the Sheriff's Office whenever you see something suspicious. The more people who agree to participate, the more effective your group is likely to be.

 Things You Can Do

Home Security Measures:

You must be aware of the potential risk of crime in your home in order to prevent it. First... Remember that the key factor in most crimes is OPPORTUNITY. IF THEY CAN'T GET AT IT, THEY CAN'T TAKE IT! Then... follow a regular plan of home security to deter the potential burglar or other intruder.

LIGHT
1) Use a timer or photo electric cell that automatically turns a living room light on at dusk, particularly if you are going to be away at that time
2) Brightly illuminate all entrances, preferably with vandal-proof fixtures

NOISE
3) Leave a radio on with the volume turned low when leaving home, even for short periods
4) Hook your stereo or radio into the motion detector light system...sudden noise works!

LOCK
5) Always close and lock garage doors
6) Lock up all ladders, ropes, or tools that could help a burglar gain entry
7) Install new locks when moving into an apartment or previously owned home
8) Keep extra keys out of sight and in a safe place; never hide a key outside--most hiding places are obvious to burglars
9) Never leave doors or windows unlocked when leaving home

SECURITY
10) Secure all obvious (and not so obvious) points of entry to your home. Pretend you are the burglar... stand outside your home and plan how you would get in; then install secure locks on all doors and windows
11) Secure automatic garage door transmitter in glove compartment of your car
12) Avoid displaying valuable items near windows with open drapes or shades
13) Start a "buddy system" with your neighbors in order to watch each other's homes, watch for "movers" or "repair people" at a house where no one is home
14) Display only your last name on your mailbox or nameplate

APPEARANCE
15) Keep all shrubbery trimmed near your doors and windows--don't provide concealment or climbing platforms for the burglar;
16) Brightly illuminate all entrances, preferably with vandal-proof fixtures
17) Keep your grass cut, your leaves raked, etc. to indicate a well cared for and occupied home
18) Empty your mailbox or arrange to have it emptied as soon as mail is delivered

Securing Your Home When Leaving Home for Several Days:

19) Don't cancel your paper or mail deliveries; ask a trusted neighbor to pick the mail up every day
20) Leave a key with a trusted friend or neighbor; ask that the house be checked periodically
21) Have the drapes periodically opened and closed; and have different lights turned on and off so the house appears occupied;
22) Store all your valuables
23) Consider asking trusted friends or relatives to live in your home while you are away
24) Leave a car in the driveway, or ask neighbors to park in it
25) Ask your neighbor to put some trash in your trash cans and set it at the curb at the appropriate time

Despite precautions, if intruders are determined to enter and burglarize your home, they can probably do so. However, burglars usually seek the easiest target--and you can take steps to make your home less vulnerable.

Telephone Security:

26) Never give your personal information (name, age, address, etc.) to a stranger on the telephone
27) Never let a stranger on the telephone know when you will or will not be home
28) Never let a stranger on the telephone know you are home alone, especially if your are a woman...instruct babysitters never to tell anyone who calls that they are home alone with children
29) Teach children old enough to be left alone never to tell a stranger who telephones that parents are gone. Teach them to say, "My mom can't come to the phone now. May I take a message?"
30) Credit card/Social Security #, etc. Do not give out a credit card or social security number to someone whom you do not know or whom you did not call.


Telephone Security When Planning a Trip:

31) Use "call forwarding" if available in your area. (Call forwarding can give callers the impression that residents are home when they are actually away, by transferring your incoming calls to another telephone number. Your local phone company can provide you with further information.)
32) Consider having your telephone "put on vacation." (Notify the telephone company approximately two weeks before your vacation or trip, and arrangements will be made for an operator or a recording to state that your telephone is temporarily out of order each time it rings);

 What To Watch For

Suspicious Persons:
Obviously, not every stranger who comes into a neighborhood is a criminal. Legitimate door-to-door sales and repair people appear in residential areas frequently. Occasionally, however, criminals disguise themselves as these workers; therefore, it is important to be alert to the activities of all nonresidents.

The Sheriff's Office should be notified in the following circumstances, who MAY be suspects in the crimes indicated:
1) Going door to door in a residential area, especially if one or more goes to rear of residence or loiters in front of an unoccupied house or closed business (burglary).
2) Forcing entrance or entering an unoccupied house (burglary, theft, or trespassing).
3) Running, especially if carrying something of value or carrying unwrapped property at an unusual hour (fleeing the scene of a crime).
4) Heavy traffic to and from a residence, particularly if it occurs on a daily bases (drug dealing, vice or fence stolen property).
5) Screaming (rape or assault).
6) A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a child (child abductor).
7) Someone looking into windows of parked cars (auto theft or larceny from vehicle).
8) Cars, vans, or trucks moving slowly with no apparent destination, or without lights. (Casing the neighborhood, looking for a victim).
9) Loitering around schools, parks or secluded areas (sex offender).
10) Offering items for sale at a very low price (trying to sell stolen property).
11) Loitering or driving through a neighborhood several times or appearing as delivery person with a wrong address (burglary).
12) Business transactions taking place, especially around schools and parks (sale of stolen items or drugs).
13) Attempt of forcible entry, especially in a parking lot (theft of car or its contents).
14) Persons detaching mechanical parts or accessories from it (theft or vandalism).
15) Objects being thrown from a vehicle (disposing of contraband).


Suspicious Vehicles:
Vehicles in the following situations MAY be but not limited to, involved in crimes and should be reported to the Sheriff's Office.

1) Slow moving, without lights, following aimless course in any location, including residential streets, schools, and playgrounds. (burglars, drug dealers, or sex offender).
2) Parked or occupied vehicles, containing one or more persons, especially at an unusual hour (lookouts for a burglary, drug deal, or robbery).
3) Parked by a business or unoccupied residence, being loaded with valuables (burglary or theft).
4) Abandoned Vehicles in your neighborhood (stolen vehicle).
5) Someone, especially a female or juvenile, being forced into a vehicle (kidnapping, assault, or attempted rape).

 The Law Is On Your Side

The law is on your side, but it works best when everyone with a stake in the neighborhood's well-being works together. Use partnerships with law enforcement agencies, businesses, and local government to drive illegal activities from your streets.

BE ALERT! Anything that seems slightly "out of place" or is occurring at an unusual time of day could be criminal activity. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND A PERSON COMMITTING A CRIME OR TO INVESTIGATE A SUSPICIOUS PERSON OR ACTIVITY. Call 911 or the Sheriff's Office Dispatch at 283-1225 immediately, and do not worry about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. The Sheriff's Office would rather investigate than be called when it is too late.

The prevention of crime--particularly crime involving residential neighborhoods--is a responsibility that must be shared equally by the Sheriff's Office and the private citizens. The fact is, the impact on crime prevention by the Sheriff's Office alone is minimal when compared with the power of private citizens and the Sheriff's Office working together.

Neighborhood Watch is based on this concept of cooperation, and nationwide statistics prove that it works. When citizens take positive steps to secure their own property and neighbors learn how to report suspicious activity around their homes, burglary and other related crimes decrease dramatically. Would be thieves look for easier neighborhoods...they too are likely to be observed and get caught in yours.

Neighborhood Watch is not a vigilante program. It doesn't give people the authority to act like law enforcement officers, take risks or try to be heroes. And it's not an excuse to poke noses in other people's business. It is an obligation to look out for each other as neighbors and to inform law enforcement whenever something is going on that seems to require the help or intervention of the Sheriff's Office.

The following incidents MAY indicate possible criminal activity and should be reported:
1) Continuous repair operations at a non-business location (stolen property being altered)
2) Open or broken doors and windows at a closed business or unoccupied residence (burglary or vandalism)
3) Unusual noises, such as gunshots, screaming, or dogs barking continuously that normally do not bark (burglary, assault, or rape)
4) Sound of breaking glass (burglary or vandalism)
5) A person exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms (person may be injured, under the influence of drugs, or otherwise needing medical attention). DO NOT CLOSELY APPROACH THE PERSON...CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY AND STAY ON THE LINE. THE DISPATCHER WILL ADVISE YOU WHAT TO DO.

 Reporting A Crime

Describing and Reporting of Events, Vehicle and Persons
Practicing to develop skills in providing quick, accurate descriptions is an excellent NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meeting activity. In attempting to describe events, vehicles, or persons, write down the details of what you have observed while they are still fresh in your mind, so your descriptions to the Sheriff's Office will be as accurate as possible.

Time and accuracy are critical in reporting crime or suspicious events. Call 911 to report life-threatening incidents or a crime in progress, and use the Non Emergency Number 283-1225 for crimes that have already occurred. Your call could save a life, prevent an injury, or stop a crime. You do not have to give your name, although this is often helpful.

Describing Events: (When describing events, write down as much detail as you can:)
1) WHAT happened;
2) WHEN it happened;
3) WHERE it occurred (note the nearest cross street, home address, or landmark in relationship to the event);
4) Whether injuries are involved (Be prepared to report visible or suspected personal injury. Be as specific as possible -- this could save a life!);
5) Whether weapons are involved (this information, whether observed or suspected is vital to the responding deputies).

Describing Vehicles: (When describing vehicles, write down as much detail as you can:)
1) Vehicle license number and state
2) Make and type of vehicle (2 - door, 4 - door, Sports car, SUV, Van, Truck, Motorcycle, ETC.)
3) Color
4) Approximate age
5) Special designs or unusual features, such as a convertible top, mag wheels, body damage, pinstripes, etc.
6) Direction of travel
7) Number of Occupants

Describing of Persons: (In preparing descriptions of persons, it is important to write down the following:)
1) Sex;
2) Race;
3) Age;
4) Height (estimate from eye contact level measured against your height);
5) Weight;
6) Hair (color and length);
7) Hat;
8) Facial Hair (beard/mustache);
9) Shirt/tie, style and color;
10) Coat/Jacket, style and color;
11) Pants, style and color;
12) Shoes, style and color;
13) Any peculiar or distinguishable mannerisms, physical disabilities, disfigurations, scars or tattoos;
14) Voice characteristics;
15) Direction of movement.