Neighborhood alert is a collaborative effort between neighbors and local law enforcement agencies to help prevent crime in their communities. Neighborhood watch programs are available in neighborhoods and apartment communities of all sizes, with some covering thousands of homes. The program is based on the principle that if everyone in a neighborhood or community can keep an eye out for suspicious activities, crimes can be stopped quickly and efficiently.
Whether you live in an urban or rural area, the first step is to contact your local law enforcement agency to ask for details and assistance in establishing a neighborhood watch. Your local police department can provide you with the contact information for a liaison officer or crime prevention specialist who is familiar with teaching residents about home and neighborhood safety.
Attend meetings to discuss the goals of your neighborhood watch. Set up a committee with one main person to manage the group and block captains who are responsible for informing other members about issues that need to be addressed. Get to know your neighbors and pay attention to their routines, as strangers are easier to spot when you are familiar with them. Learn to recognize cars, who they belong to, and what their identifying marks are. Ask if they have children or pets, and make it a point to know their names.
Encourage your neighbors to inform you if they are going out of town for an extended time, and put lights on timers to make it appear the house is occupied. The most important tool for a crime watch volunteer is a reliable communication system that allows them to send notifications to the entire neighborhood in seconds, without making it obvious they are calling to report something. DialMyCalls is a powerful, discreet, and easy-to-use communications solution that can be used by neighborhood watch groups to send text messages and voice calls to all members in their community in real-time.