Neighborhood Watch Richland Police Department

What is Neighborhood Watch? Organized Neighbors:  Looking out for each other  Immediately reporting suspicious activity to the police department  Learning about crime trends in their neighborhood and ways to prevent crime  Working with the police department to address problems

What is NOT Neighborhood Watch Vigilantism Neighbors acting as police Taking matters into your own hands

First Neighborhood Watch Meeting Meet your neighbors Learn about crime in the neighborhood Learn when to call the police Learn ways to prevent crime Discuss any neighborhood specific problems Share experiences Pick a Captain or President Share names, phone numbers and addresses with the rest of the group

Crime Statistics

When to call the Police You know your neighborhood better than anyone; what fits and what does not Loud unexplained screaming or noise Unfamiliar people loading property Unfamiliar people in or coming from a backyard or garage

When to call the Police Unfamiliar vehicles driving or parked in the neighborhood, especially ones talking to children Unattended children Someone being forced into a vehicle Abandoned vehicles Anything else that you feel should be reported. Trust your instincts.

Crime Prevention Your Home:  Use lighting to illuminate entry ways and driveways  Keep landscaping pruned to eliminate hiding places; shrubs below 3 feet, trees above 6 feet  All entry doors into your home should be solid core and have a deadbolt (including from the garage)

Crime Prevention Your Home:  Deadbolts should be heavy duty with a minimum 1 inch throw  Striker plate should be heavy duty and mounted with 3 inch screws  All windows should have a primary and secondary lock (ex. stick in the window)  Sliding glass doors should have a “Charlie bar” or stick to prevent opening

Crime Prevention Your Home:  Install an eye viewer in your front door  Keep your home locked, especially while you are home  Do not allow unknown persons inside your home  Verify the identity of service workers  Ask for a solicitors license from any door to door sales people

Crime Prevention Your Home:  Keep your garage doors shut and locked when not in use  Let a trusted neighbor know if you are going to be gone on vacation and cancel the newspaper  Alarm systems are a good option, but must be installed correctly and monitored 24 hours a day

Crime Prevention Your Home:  Record the make, model and serial numbers of valuables. Keep this information in a safe place  Consider engraving valuables that can be engraved – use your driver’s license number  Take photos of valuables.

Crime Prevention Family  Create and practice a home safety plan  Teach your children Not to answer the door or phone without your permission What to do if they get lost or separated from you Not to talk to strangers, accept things from strangers, help strangers etc.

Crime Prevention Family  Teach your children: Not to go into someone's home without your specific approval Not to get in someone’s car without your specific approval If someone tries to take them, to kick and scream and yell: “this is not my Mommy/Daddy!”

Crime Prevention Your Vehicle:  Keep your vehicle locked and remove valuables  Park your vehicle in the garage if possible, if not, then in a well lit driveway  Consider an alarm system  Never leave a vehicle running unattended  Don’t leave a garage door opener in a vehicle parked in the driveway

Neighborhood Specific Concerns

Share Experiences

What’s next? Pick a Captain to serve as the leader of the group and the liaison with the police department Share names, phone numbers, and (optional)

Annual Meetings Have a block party each summer  Can coincide with National Night Out, the first Tuesday in August  Make it an event and encourage people to help bring food and chairs  Have activities for the kids  Get any appropriate permits needed from the city  Invite the police department

Communicate Send out a neighborhood newsletter on a regular basis Can be done on paper or through

Questions? Officer Erica Tungesvik Crime Prevention Officer Richland Police Department