Neighborhood Watches

Provided to the News-Times by Debbie Watts and the SHARE Foundation

A neighborhood watch is a group of people living near each other that collaborate with local law enforcement to lessen crime incidents and improve their neighborhood.

Currently, there are few organized watches in Union County, but those involved in the Violence Intervention Plan (VIP) would love to help grow these numbers. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there are many benefits of a watch, including:

• Reduction in crime

• Better quality of life

• Greater sense of security, responsibility, and personal control

• Building community pride and unity

• Preparing for helping yourself and others in your community

• Providing law enforcement agencies with volunteer support year round

• Becoming the extra “eyes and ears” of law enforcement personnel and therefore reduce law enforcement’s burden

How to Start a Neighborhood Watch

1. Recruit and organize neighbors.

2. Contact local law enforcement to schedule a meeting to see how your neighborhood can work with them.

3. Discuss the concerns of your neighborhood and develop a specific plan to address these areas.

4. Implement a phone tree or other form of communication, hold regular concise meetings, and train on relevant skills necessary to participate in the watch.

For more information on how to start a neighborhood watch, visit https://www.bja.gov/ Publications/NSA_NW_ Manual.pdf.

Dos and Don’ts

Any time of the year, especially with the holiday season fast approaching, individuals should always be mindful of safety suggestions.

DO:

• Make sure your neighbors know when you plan to be away so they can be your eyes and ears.

• Check doors, windows and garages to ensure that they are difficult to break into.

• Utilize alarms and outdoor lights.

• Create a list of each valuable, their description, VIN number and other identifying factors and keep in a secure place. DON’T:

• Do not have shipped packages left at your home if unoccupied during the day.

• Do not leave your vehicle unlocked, even if under your carport.

• Do not leave packages, a purse, or money in plain sight in your vehicle.

If you see something out of place or an odd occurrence in your neighborhood, take specific note of things like vehicle descriptions, the time and date, the location and a description of the people involved as well as any other details. All dangerous situations and illegal activities should be reported to 911 immediately.

To learn more about the focus areas of the Union County Violence Intervention Plan (VIP) outlined at the top, it can be viewed at www. sharefoundation.com or call Debbie Watts, SHARE Foundation VP of Community Impact at 870-881-9015.