Neighborhood Watch is a program which enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with the Police to reduce crime in their community.
Neighborhood Watch, in various forms, has been around for many years. Today it is one of the most popular and successful of all efforts to prevent residential crime. Perhaps one reason for the success of Neighborhood Watch is its simplicity. Although programs may vary the ways they are organized and the methods used to reduce the opportunity for crime, all are predicated on the need for residents to protect their neighborhood by observing and reporting suspicious or unusual activities.
What does it involve?
Neighbors knowing who their neighbors are, so they can work together in a program of mutual assistance. Citizens being trained to recognize, and report, suspicious activities in their neighborhood.
What are the Benefits of Neighborhood Watch?
Many communities with active programs have experienced substantial decreases in burglary, vandalism and larceny. In addition to the prevention of residential crime, Neighborhood Watch:
- Creates a greater awareness of crime & increases reporting of crime and suspicious activities
- Serves as a warning to criminals
- Promotes neighborliness
- Provides residents with access to crime patterns and trends that may threaten them.
- Increases arrest and conviction of criminals due to the availability of eye witnesses.
*Taken from the West Valley City official website
