Neighborhood alert is a modern law enforcement program that relies on residents to monitor suspicious activity and share reports with police. It’s a great crime prevention tool that builds community spirit and camaraderie with neighbors, as well as stronger relationships with local law enforcement. It also helps discourage open-air drug markets, gangs, and other illegal activities that can affect all of us.
A neighborhood watch (sometimes called a crime watch) is an organized group of neighbors, usually led by a block captain, who patrol their area on a regular basis to improve security. Often, a neighborhood watch is a part of or connected to a homeowners association, residents’ committee, church group, or other community organization.
Your local law enforcement agency can provide free materials and training to help you get started. You might also want to link up with a victims’ services office, or other similar community organizations to broaden your impact.
Getting a good handle on your neighborhood alerts requires some workshop-style discipline. Designate an email folder exclusively for them, and apply filters to keep them from getting lost in the shuffle of your main inbox. Managing your alerts like this makes it easier to respond quickly, and ensures that your neighbors can receive the important messages they need.
Adding an easy-to-remember vanity phone number with DialMyCalls is a simple way to let your neighbors know if you’re going to be away for any length of time, and to ask them to keep an eye on your home. They can call your neighborhood alert line and leave a message with back-up, who can then call the police right away.
About the Author
