We have all seen the signs stating that a neighborhood watch is in effect.  You notice that the neighborhood is usually clean, kids are playing in the street, and people look generally happy.  Why is that?

A neighborhood watch program is usually conducted alongside the local police department.  This means there is a police officer that works with the neighborhood in order to make it safer and more secure.  The officer provides the latest criminal information, including the location of the nearest child sex offender. The officer also provides information on security devices and laws related to home security and self defense for the neighborhood watch programs.

Also there are consistant community meetings involving all the neighbors.  In these meetings you get to know the people who live next to you.  You learn about their kids, who is married to whom, where everyone is from, and what everyone drives.  You get a sense of how the neighborhood should feel.

When a community stands together and knows each other they tend to notice and sense when things aren’t going right.  For example, if an unknown person is seen peering into the windows of a neighborhood house, the neighbor can go directly to that person and ask what business they have being at that house.  Or instead of confronting the individual, they can be proactive and call the local police station for a police car to drive by and check out the situation. That type of protection in a community is ideal.

Please consider joining your local neighborhood watch program.  You’ll create relationships with your local police department, make friends with your neighbors, and begin to feel safe about letting your kids play outside again.  It is well worth it to have the feeling of a community and having a neighborhood full of neighbors you truly know.