The most important benefits of being involved in your own Neighborhood Watch program are:

Neighborhood policing by you and your neighbors, together with your own police, creates a greater sense of security, well-being, and reduction of fear of crime because you know you and your neighbors will “LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.”

Reduce the risk of being a crime victim. You are taught how to take preventive measures that substantially decrease the likelihood of becoming a crime victim. The instances of other crimes such as vandalism, graffiti, personal assault, auto theft and other personal crimes also decrease.

The Neighborhood Watch program trains you how to observe and report suspicious activities occurring in your neighborhood. It trains you on what information law enforcement officers need when you report a crime.

Knowing your neighbor is an important feature and benefit of this program. You get to know participant’s regular patterns so you can see when something is unusual. You get to know how to contact them quickly.

You have greater access to criminal activity information. Neighborhood Watch programs are designed to keep participants informed of crime trends and patterns so they will be better prepared to spot criminal activity.

Participants get on-going training in how to protect themselves and their property. Personal safety awareness, whether you are at home, in public, or in your vehicle, and knowing what “to do and not to do” could prevent you from becoming a victim.

Posting Neighborhood Watch signs on your street and labels or decals in your windows tells a criminal that (a) you are not an easy target, that (b) they are probably being watched and (c) you have taken the steps necessary to deter crime in your neighborhood. Convicted burglars report avoiding neighborhoods that have Neighborhood Watch signs posted.

Address issues of mutual interest by getting together with your neighbors on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, or what ever you wish). These may be for other crime prevention, fire protection, local planning, or other projects which you alone may say, “Why don’t they do something about… !”

As a community, as an organization already working together as a Neighborhood Watch group, you have the stepping stone needed to getting things done.