Interested in Neighborhood Watch? Reach out to your neighborhood's PAR Officer.
Neighborhood Watch is a voluntary program organized by concerned citizens to reduce crime in their communities. Working with local law enforcement agencies, citizens can learn when and how to report suspicious activities, assist in property identification, conduct home security surveys, and implement home security measures and precautions.
The following is a list of common traits that successful Neighborhood Watch programs share:
- People feel a sense of ownership with the program. They have invested their time and energy in it and it belongs to them.
- Law Enforcement is seen as an indispensable guiding force.
- Citizens see the program as their own responsibility. They choose to get involved in all stages of planning, from implementation and evaluation to maintenance.
- The program addresses the local concerns of the citizens such as domestic violence, abandoned cars, vacant lots filled with trash, drugs and gang activity.
No matter where you live, you can still be at risk for facing a crime threat. Early detection is the best way to prevent the onset of bigger problems. It's a good idea to get into action at the first sight of trouble. A rash of break-ins, people loitering, graffiti and abandoned autos are all possible clues that could lead to trouble.
Paying attention to small problems ahead of time can save you from having to face larger and more difficult ones down the road.
Any resident of a Springfield community can join a Neighborhood Watch, even those who do not own a home.