Neighborhood Crime Watch
Due to many break-ins and vandalism last year Center City decided to start a Neighborhood Crime Watch group. A few nights during the week and on weekends the Crime Watch members take turns walking the neighborhood. Any suspicious activity is reported to the police.
So, what is a Neighborhood Crime Watch?
A neighborhood watch (also called a crime watch or neighborhood crime watch) is an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood. In the United States it builds on the concept of a town watch from Colonial America.
A neighborhood watch may be organized as its own group or may simply be a function of a neighborhood association or other community association. Neighborhood watches are not vigilante organizations. When suspecting criminal activities, members are encouraged to contact authorities and not to intervene.
What do we do in CenterCity?
Primarily we act as an organized body that watches and patrols the neighborhood both during daylight hours as well as at night time. We participate in “Walk the Dog” a program where we monitor the neighborhood during the day, looking for any activity or issues that may require further attention. We also carry out night time patrols, where our participants monitor the neighborhood after sun down, looking for suspicious activity. Don’t be alarmed if you see us, we’ll be the folks with flashlights wearing some kind of highly reflective material.
Crime Watch Resources
Walk the Dog Program
In association with the Neighborhood Crime Watch Center City has also started a Walk the Dog Program which takes place during the warmer months right before sunset. This program started by accident when a few residents started walking their dogs together. Then as interest grew we made it our mission to introduce ourselves to other residents and to make our presence know to those that might cause mischief.
The Walk the Dog Program is not only about finding the trouble makers. A bigger part of our mission to introduce ourselves to our neighbors and get to know them better. If anything we want to create a friendly neighborhood.
