Neighborhood Watch: Habits that Keep Your Community Safe

Recent discoveries in the media of troubled persons going on violent rampages and criminal substance growers being caught operating greenhouses inside quiet suburban homes have restarted the growth of Neighborhood Watch programs nationwide. Neighborhood Watch statistics show that such programs shrink crime in the area and keep streets and community areas more safe for kids and families. These programs enhance police effectiveness.

1. Meet and Greet Your Neighbors.

Make yourself known to the neighbors. Knock on doors with cookies, invitations to barbecue parties, or play dates for the kids. Have their phone numbers. If they don't want to give them to you, look them up online. Neighborhood Watch programs should include the entire community to be best preventative of crime. If you need to call neighbors at night to alert them to a prowler or suspicious activity in their backyard, you'll need every second. This especially includes new neighbors. Watch for neighbors who have random people stopping by frequently.

2. Know the Neighbor's Kids

Know what kids live on your block, their ages, and their parent's names. Neighborhood Watch programs encourage people to share details that could make a difference. Coach children to come to neighbor's when danger or suspicious activity occurs. If they get in trouble and need to call home, nobody may be there. Make sure your Neighborhood Watch numbers are in their cellphones if they get kept after school or need a ride home. You don't have to like the neighbors but you should know them. To watch out for each other is in everyone's self interest.

3. Find the Hiding Places in Your area

Predators and criminals lurk in blind spots and test neighbor awareness by parking off and on and "establishing" themselves. Neighborhood Watch programs prevent this from happening without notice. If you see a truck or car parked outside your home or down the street on an ongoing basis, find out which house it belongs to. Watch people making trips loading cars and trucks on a regular basis from backyards or unseen areas.