TIPS AND TRICKS OF NHW

What Neighborhood Watch Members Look For
Someone stealing their own bike or someone trying to take their own drone. 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 a business is closed Cars, vans, or trucks moving slowly without 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. Report these incidents to the police department. Talk about the problem with your neighbors.

How To Report
Give your name and address. Briefly describe the event - what happened, when, where, and who was involved. Describe the suspect: sex and race, age, height, weight, hair color, clothing, distinctive characteristics such as beard, mustache, scars, tattoos or accent. Describe the vehicle if one was involved: color, make, model, year, license plate, and special features such as stickers, dents, muffler deletes, q50s or decals.

Keeping your Neighborhood Watch Group 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. Organize community patrols to walk around streets or apartment complexes and alert police to crime and suspicious activities and identify problems needing attention. People in cars with cellular phones or CB radios can patrol. Adopt a park or school playground. Pick up litter, repair broken equipment, paint over graffiti. Work with local building code officials to require dead bolt locks, smoke alarms, and other safety devices in new and existing homes and commercial buildings. Work with parent groups and schools to start a McGruff House or other block parent program (to help children in emergency situations). A McGruff House is a reliable source of help for children in emergency or frightening situations. For information, call 800-696-6969. Publish a newsletter that gives prevention tips and local crime news, recognizes residents of all ages who have "made a difference," and highlights community events. Don't forget social events that give neighbors a chance to know each other - a block party, potluck dinner, volleyball softball game, or picnic.