REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Special Order of Business - Neighborhood Watch Program [Council Pillar - Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure]
Report
BACKGROUND
Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and best-known crime prevention concepts.
In the late 1960's, an increase in crime heightened the need for a crime prevention initiative focused on residential areas and involving local citizens. The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) responded, creating the National Neighborhood Watch (NNW) program in 1972, to assist citizens and law enforcement.
DISCUSSION
Although crime trends have changed over time, the basic principle behind Neighborhood Watch remains the same. Neighborhood Watch brings residents and businesses in the same area together (e.g. mobile home park, homeowner's association, apartment complex, block/neighborhood, etc.) to establish connections, develop a neighborhood communication system and forge bonds toward a healthy and vibrant neighborhood. Essentially, Neighborhood Watch is a group of neighbors looking out for neighbors while collaborating with local law enforcement to reduce crime and improve the overall quality of life in a community.
Neighborhood Watch groups meet regularly to discuss existing challenges and brainstorm potential solutions or identify ways to keep a problem from occurring in the first place. Neighborhood Watch is homeland security at the most local level.
Neighborhood Watch groups have the ability to invite Police Department representatives to their meetings to discuss topics of interest, including:
* Crime statistics and trends
* Identifying suspicious or criminal activity
* Crime reporting (e.g. emergency vs non-emergency)
* Financial crimes and scams
* Bicycle thefts and registry
* Vehicle security
* Home security measures (e.g. environmental design, types of alarms/locks, importance of documenting serial numbers, bike registry, etc.)
* Mail and package theft reduction
* Pers...
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