View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2006 > June > 15
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Neighorhood Watch makes good sense
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Part 2 of Neighborhood Watch and crime prevention
When we last visited, we were talking about how to throw off the bad guys. Now for some solutions.
First thing that comes to mind is to act crazy all the time. Having been in most of the North Fulton area neighborhoods, I can say that for some of the residents, this may not be a stretch. It is, however, labor-intensive. Remember, we’re in this for the long haul so let’s save the crazy act for the solicitors that come to your door.
Remember: Perception, eyes and ears. First start with the Neighborhood Watch sign. If you have one and it’s run down, ask for a new one, even if you have to pay for it. (For example, if you can’t read the sign for the dirt and mold, you need to clean it.) If you don’t have a sign, you’ll need to order one. (Remember that you have to be in the program to get the sign.)
Organize. Select a coordinator and block captains. How do you do this? Simple. Set up a meeting and ask the crime prevention officer to come and talk about NW. On the night of the meeting, look around. Those who didn’t attend are selected as the coordinator and block captains. I’m kidding. Everyone knows that’s how you select the HOA president.
Organization and consistency are the keys to a good successful program. Get everyone involved and make it fun. Contact your local police department crime prevention unit or Community Oriented Police unit and ask about NW. Make sure you know how the program is going to work and select people who will stay with it. For example, if your neighbor travels three weeks a month, he or she isn’t a good choice. Other disqualifiers may include your neighbor being a burglar. Do some homework on this.
Once the program is up and going remember that you need to communicate with your neighbors constantly. E-mail is the best way to quickly broadcast information. (Remember to verify the information before you add to an urban legend.)
Create a system of checking on homes whose resident’s are out of town. Get your residents in the habit of when they come home later in the evening, drive by the pool or an empty home just to get a look. If something isn’t right, call the police. Note that I didn’t say do a commando-style house-to-house search like they do on TV. Life isn’t like TV. There’s much more paperwork, especially when you get seriously hurt or killed. Remember: Eyes and ears. No Rambo.
Here’s a good summer hint: Know where the kids are. It’s sneak-out season and although this may come as a shock, we can directly tie a lot of vandalism problems to young kids who are out at night, way past when they should be in. Most counties and cities have curfew laws. In Fulton County, it’s 17 years old and younger. 11 p.m. is the cutoff time except for Friday and Saturday nights when it’s about midnight or so. There are conditions so check with your local department.
In Ball Ground, for example, the curfew is based on the type of pickup truck you have and what NASCAR number you have on the back window.
Neighborhood Watch makes good sense and is a good program. Check into it and if it fits, go for it.
Like my friend Sully says: “When it comes to crime, only you can prevent forest fires.”
