Neighborhood Watch

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OVERVIEW
This Crime Watch information handbook contains important information that can help keep your home and family safe and secure. Inside this handbook is a list of phone numbers of whom to call in case of emergency, along with other important phone numbers related to Crime Watch. There is also a section that lists all the block and section captains and maps showing where each block is located.

The Crime Watch program is explained in this handbook and a Crime Watch information reporting sheet is included. This sheet is to be used when reporting or receiving information on suspicious or criminal activity. It is very important that correct information be recorded and passed on regarding any incident that has occurred.

ALWAYS REMEMBER CRIME WATCH IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY. BY GETTING INVOLVED YOU WILL HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND SECURE.

Many communities maintain Crime Watch programs to assist in crime prevention. Through the Crime Watch program, neighbors keep an eye on each other and each other's property and report crime and suspicious activity to the law enforcement agency. All of us living in Barker's Ridge are concerned about the safety of our families and homes. The purpose of Crime Watch is to raise the level of awareness and concern toward crime prevention and to create active participation between residents and law enforcement officers in the fight against crime.

Crime Watch works in a pyramid manner. If a resident observes a crime in progress or suspicious activity, they would report it to the Constable's officer (463-6666) and then notify their block captain. The block captain would then call the section captain, who would notify the Crime Watch chairman with details of criminal or suspicious activity. But Crime Watch is more than just a chain of communication. It is being concerned for ourselves and others by keeping an eye open for suspicious activity, secure in the knowledge that our neighbor is doing the same for us.

The key to a successful Crime Watch program is getting to know your neighbors, knowing when they are home, what car they drive, etc. This helps us to notice irregularities around Barker's Ridge. There are several section captains who interface with about 10-12 block captains. Each block captain is responsible for about 12-14 homes. Block captains maintain information about neighbors on their block such as names, addresses, and home and work telephone numbers, for use in contacting them when the need arises. Our Crime Watch also has automobile identification decals to assist residents and officers in recognizing resident vehicles.

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RESIDENT GUIDELINES FOR CRIME WATCH PROGRAM:
1. Be an aware and concerned neighbor. If something doesn't look right, report it!
2. Follow the basics of the Crime Watch program (listed below).
3, Know your neighbors. Take particular notice of vulnerabilities of your block (i.e.; no one home during the day, entrance obscured from the road, etc.).
4. Know how and whom to call in an emergency. Call your block captain. Never take matters into your own hands! Always report emergencies to the proper authorities and let them handle it. Don't panic. Use common sense.

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THE BASICS OF CRIME WATCH:
1. Know your neighbors:

• Who is home and when.

• How many cars owned and record license plate numbers.

• Phone numbers (home and work).

• Notify your neighbors when you are having work done and won't be home.

• Notify your neighbors of any deliveries you are expecting.

• Notify your neighbors of anyone caring for your home while you are away.

2. Watch for unusual activities:

• Visitors when neighbors are known to be gone.

• Non-resident autos parked in the neighborhood.

• A car driving unusually slow through the neighborhood

• Anyone carrying objects away from homes or garages.

3. Report suspicious activities:

• Call the Constable dispatch immediately (463-6666) to report any suspicious activity. If the officer does not arrive promptly, call and report again. Don't wait 30 minutes or longer for the officer to arrive before you call again.

• Do not investigate any suspicious activity. Your neighbor's property is not worth your life.

• NEVER CONFRONT A SUSPECT THIS CAN BE DEADLY!!

• Always notify your block captain of all suspicious activity, including your reports to the Constable's office

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PROCEDURE FOR REPORTING TO THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE:
It is extremely important that you become thoroughly familiar with the following instructions, so that when the need arises, you can properly report suspicious activities, crimes in progress, or emergencies. Be prepared!
1. IDENTIFY YOURSELF - Name, address, phone number.
2. TYPE OF CRIME - Burglary, assault, suspicious person, etc.
3. IS THE CRIME IN PROGRESS??
4. WHERE IS IT? Address, landmark if no address.
5. IS THE SUSPECT ARMED? With what? gun, knife, etc.
6. DESCRIPTION OF PERSON OR VEHICLE - Be specific.
7. WHAT DIRECTION VEHICLE OR PERSON IS TRAVELING.
8. HOW ENTRY WAS MADE - Door, window, etc.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS:
1. Suspicious vehicles/suspicious person calls:

1. These situations should be handled with care and common sense. Many times a "suspicious" label is applied because the person or vehicle is out of his apparent environment, (i.e. a battered van in an upper class neighborhood).

2. If a vehicle is parked in the area, or if a person is loitering in the area, try to obtain a license plate number without jeopardizing your safety. Log the date, time, location, and vehicle description. Note what appears to be suspicious and call the Constable's office. A large number of calls do assist in the apprehension of criminals.

3. Block captain's should be informed of sightings of these vehicles or persons so the information can be passed on to the section captains and chairman.

4. Keep in mind that there are no laws or ordinances specifying where or when any vehicle may travel on a public roadway.

The key is communication and information. You are not expected to solve the crimes, nor are you to interfere with the investigation. But you can gather and provide valuable information to the constable's department through the Crime Watch telephone chain.

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HOW THE TELEPHONE CHAIN WORKS:
I, Determine from neighbors the best time to call and relay the information. Ask whether they wish to be called during the night in an emergency situation, (i.e., burglar running in the general direction of the neighbor's home).
2. Report anything suspicious to the Constable's office They would prefer to spend 10 minutes checking out a call then 10 days following up on a crime that has already been committed.
3. If you do witness a crime in progress, first call the Constable's office then notify your block captain as soon as possible in case the suspect is still in the area. The block captain sets a visual perimeter "fence" around by calling others in the chain. This could aid the Constable in tracing the suspect if he attempts to flee the area.
4. The block captain then notifies the section captain as soon as possible after setting up a visual perimeter. This is helpful should the area of search need to be broadened. The section captain then alerts the other block captains and the Crime Watch chairman.
5. As a Crime Watcher, you are considered to be the eyes and ears of the Constable's office The importance of your contribution cannot be over emphasized.

YOUR PART IN THE CHAIN:

• Keep a pen and paper by the phone at all times to write important information that has been received. Call the Constable dispatch at 463-6666, NOT 911! The Constable's office will have an officer out a lot faster this way.

• Be brief and concise in all calls. Discuss only the issues at hand.

• Relay information exactly as it is given. Do not add or delete information given to you.

• Repeat the information back to the person for accuracy

• MAKE THE CALLS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

• If you have been victimized, or have seen a suspect or vehicle reported in the chain, call your block/section captain or chairman ASAP and advise them.
  

HOW TO MAKE CRIME WATCH WORK:
1. Talk it up! Keep people thinking about crime and Crime Watch. Remind your neighbors of the importance of reporting suspicious activity promptly to the Constable's office.
2. "Socialize"! The most effective Crime Watch groups have been in areas which are socially active, (i.e., block parties, picnics, sport events, etc.). Also getting to know your neighbors and developing friendships is a key to being aware and concerned about each other's welfare and threats to their security.
3. Maintain a clean community. Studies have shown that the appearance of an area is influential in discouraging intruders. Sometimes psychological barriers can be as strong as physical ones.
4. BRIGHTEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!! While many burglaries occur in the morning and early afternoon, a number of them occur at night and almost all vandalism occurs at night. The best deterrent to nighttime criminal activity is LIGHTING! Use automatic timers to turn your indoor lights on when you are going to be away. This measure is also more psychological than physical, but it works!
5. Attend the Crime Watch meetings. Be knowledgeable about area crime and the related prevention tips.

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MAINTAINING THE CRIME WATCH PROGRAM:
It may be difficult to keep up the enthusiasm of the Crime Watch program. As crime is lessened in the area, residents then become less interested in attending meetings while still remaining concerned about crime.
As crime is lessened within the community, residents may broaden the scope to maintain the functioning of the group. Residents may concern themselves with the total quality of living in the neighborhood. Community pride may be a strong motivation in maintaining the program.

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT IN PROTECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE PRIMARY CONCERN OF AN EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL CRIME WATCH PROGRAM.

CRIME WATCH AND THE THEORY OF REDUCTION OF OPPORTUNITY:
Most residential crimes occur because the opportunity to commit a crime exists. Opportunity can be divided into two categories:
1. The opportunity created by the victim through carelessness, lack of attention to security and failure to cooperate with neighbors.
2. The opportunity created by the criminal by skill, ruthlessness and daring.
The latter category describes the professional criminal. It is believed by law enforcement that a small minority of crime is a result from the professional criminal. The bulk of crime involves skilled or unskilled amateurs and centers on opportunities created by the victims themselves.

DON'T FORGET THE KIDS -
Teach your children about crime prevention. While they're outside playing they see things that adults may not notice. Make sure they know to tell parents or the Constable about anything suspicious.

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THINGS THAT MIGHT SIGNAL A CRIME:

• Someone running from a car or home.

• Someone screaming. (If you can't explain the screams, call the Constable and report them).

• Someone looking into windows or parked cars.

• Someone who appears to have no purpose wandering through the neighborhood.

• Unusual or suspicious noises that you cannot explain, (i.e., glass breaking or pounding).

• Vehicles moving slowly without lights or an apparent destination.

• Business transactions conducted from a vehicle. This could involve the sale of drugs or stolen goods. Someone walking or running while carrying property at an unusual time or place.

• Someone removing property from unoccupied residences.

• A stranger in a car that stops to talk to a child.

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Section and Block Captains

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