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	Neighborhood Watch Program Involvement Why should you be involved in Neighborhood Watch? Because studies show that 7 out of 10 Americans do not even know who their neighbors are. Because criminals find it easier to operate in neighborhoods where people do not know each other, where a thief won’t have to worry about someone calling the police since residents pay little attention to what is going on around them. Awareness What would you do if you saw a strange man climbing in your neighbor’s window? Wheeling a bicycle out of their garage? Stealing things from a parked car? Neighborhood Watch asks you to be more aware of what’s happening around you. Because you spend much more time in your neighborhood then a patrol deputy ever could, you can play an important role in preventing crime by keeping your eyes and ears open. By staying alert and promptly reporting suspicious activities, you could help prevent crimes and make your neighborhood a safer place to live. Information Neighborhood Watch is about sharing information. For instance, the we ask that you share information with us by calling when you see criminal or suspicious activity in your neighborhood. It’s also a good idea that neighbors keep each other informed about vacations or trips so you can watch out for each other’s homes while you are away. In return, we share information with you about what types of activity are being reported in your area. We’ll tell you how to use 911 and tell you about some prevention techniques that can help protect your property from theft, burglary and other crimes. Organization Neighborhood Watch is not about attending lots of meetings. Two meetings, each about an hour long, is all it takes to get a watch group started. These are informal get-togethers, usually held in your neighborhood. After that, it's simply a matter of watching out for suspicious activity in your neighborhood and calling the police whenever you see something suspicious. The more people who participate, the more effective the group is likely to be. Neighborhood Watch is not a vigilante program. It does not give any authority to people to act like police officers, take risks or be heroes. It is not an excuse to poke noses in other people’s business. It is an obligation to look out for each other as neighbors and to inform the police whenever something is going on that seems suspicious or out of the ordinary and may require investigation by a deputy. So, Neighborhood Watch isn’t a "law enforcement program." It is a neighborhood program that asks ordinary people to do simple things to improve the security of their neighborhood. It does not come with any promises or guarantees, but it provides a way to get involved and prevent crime if neighbors will simply agree to help each other. If this sounds like something you would like to start in your neighborhood, please contact Sgt. James Lynch by email at fcsosheriff@gmail.com Crime Prevention Tips Theft from Motor Vehicles Typically, young people go out at night, roam the streets, parking lots and driveways, climb into parked vehicles and steal whatever they can find. Coins, CDs, sunglasses, maybe a wallet or purse. What can you do? 1. When parking vehicles outside, always lock the doors. These potential thieves generally don’t have the skills or the patience to unlock a door. This is a crime of opportunity. 2. Store anything valuable out of sight. Park in a locked garage if you can. Put all valuables in the trunk, under a seat or blanket. Note to parents: Most of these thefts are committed by juveniles. If your son/daughter can not tell you exactly where the new CD/sunglasses, etc., came from, please find out. These thefts are not an innocent pastime, they are a crime.

Last Updated September 30, 2010

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