Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch is an effective crime prevention program which involves the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities. It substantially reduces residential burglary and other crimes, because a good neighbor is one of the most effective crime prevention tools ever invented.
Neighborhood Watch involves:
- Neighbors getting to know each other and working together to maintain a system of surveillance over one another's property, children, etc.
- Informing citizens how to recognize and report suspicious activities in progress accurately and immediately.
- Creating communication links between the community and the police through newsletters and crime prevention presentations.
- Posting signs and stickers, creating physical barriers and psychological barriers for criminals.
- Developing a partnership between the Naperville Police Department, Community Radio Watch and the residents of Naperville.
Why Neighborhood Watch?
- There cannot be a law enforcement officer on every corner in Naperville, so citizen involvement is essential to combat crime.
- You and your neighbors are the ones who really know what is going on in your community.
- By cooperating with each other and the police, people can help fight crime in their community in the most effective way-before it begins!
Gather and Share Information
Talk to your neighbors! Knowing your neighbors' basic habits and belongings will help you to recognize unusual or suspicious activities. Basic information you might exchange includes:
- Home and work phone numbers
- Number, ages and identity for family members
- Work hours
- School hours of children
- License plate numbers and types of automobiles
- Planed vacations or visitors
- Scheduled deliveries or repairs
- Any other helpful information
Guidelines
- Organize a meeting for residents in your subdivision or association.
- 80% of all residents in your association must agree to participate in Neighborhood Watch.
- Distribute Neighborhood Watch stickers for participants to place in their windows warning burglars that this is an active "Neighborhood Watch Community" and "If I don't call the police, my neighbor will."
- Develop a phone chain or email newsletter within your subdivision or association. This will be utilized when important information needs to be distributed to all residents in a prompt manner.
- Gather information from neighbors and organize it on your information card provided by the Naperville Police Department. Keep this card in a convenient location - perhaps near the phone.
- Above all, be concerned. It's the most effective way to reduce or prevent crime and make your neighborhood safe.
If a CRIME does occur...REPORT IT!
- Be suspicious. Report unusual or suspicious behavior to the police. Write down the description of the person(s) and license numbers of any vehicles involved.
- Sounds easy, but unfortunately only about half of all crimes are ever reported. Information is the key to solving many crimes, and that information comes from you.
- Even an anonymous tip is better than no report at all. So don't hesitate. Follow this rule: If you see something suspicious, call the police - fast - so the police can act - fast. The longer you wait, the harder it is to catch the criminal.
- Remember, your job is to REPORT crime. The responsibility for apprehending criminals belongs to the police.