A good neighborhood watch can be a boon for its residents. Not only can it make you feel more connected to your neighbors, but it can also have a real impact on your safety. In fact, average crime is reduced by 16% on average with a neighborhood watch. If you think your neighborhood could benefit, here’s where to start.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
Saying hi when a neighbor is out for a walk, stopping to chat at the mailboxes or even dropping by with a plate of cookies can all be important steps to get to know the people in your neighborhood. Fostering relationships can be a great first step before assessing potential interest in a neighborhood watch.
Gauge Interest
A successful neighborhood watch requires interested neighbors. Gauge interest through emails, flyers and posters. Be sure to keep the message simple and go over key info like what a neighborhood watch is, why it would be useful, where a meeting would take place and who people can contact for more information. For neighbors you know well, consider simply chatting with them and explaining your interest in person.
Do Your Research
If you and a few key players are interested in spearheading the project, be sure that you do your research. Ask your local law enforcement if they have information regarding starting a neighborhood watch in your area; since you’ll work alongside law enforcement locally, following their recommendations is key. Map out exactly what area your neighborhood watch will cover and consider meeting with other local neighborhood watch leaders to find out what has worked well for them. Consult community members about their biggest goals for a neighborhood watch.
Finalize and Implement
Take action by setting up meeting days, creating a neighborhood clean-up day, or opting to train with local law enforcement. Neighborhood watch training from police can help your community members increase crime awareness, and training with other key community experts like firefighters or disaster prep program leaders can keep you safe in other ways.
Keeping your neighborhood safer can be a simple matter of rallying your community. Building a neighborhood watch can decrease crime and can provide a new sense of community in your area; focusing on recruitment can be an excellent first step toward this goal.
