Community Watch
To all homeowners and renters:
The Board of Directors and I wanted to let you know that we now have a Community Watch in place. We, along with a few homeowners, only 7 (seven) to be exact, met with Officer D. W. Hicks in August, to learn more about what community watch can do for our subdivision and how to get this program started. We were very disappointed that so many of you did not attend this very important meeting, because we have had some problems in our area, and we realize just how important having this communication means to us.
Enclosed is the information from the Raleigh Police Department and Officer D. W. Hicks that explains how Community Watch programs work. We sincerely hope you will join us in this effort to help maintain the safety of our community.
We already have a block captain for each end of Bona Court. Mary Garris is block captain for the north end of Bona and I am block captain for the south end. Also, Sherlene Locklear has volunteered to be block captain for the east end of Comstock Road. As Chairperson, I am asking that someone on the west end of Comstock Road and Roller Court volunteer to be a block captain for those areas. Please call me at 919-873-0697 if you will agree to do this.
We cannot stress enough to you how important this program is, and sincerely hope you will join us in making our subdivision safe.
Sincerely,
Lawson B. Pelletier
Chairperson
INTENT OF THE COMMUNITY WATCH PROGRAM
• BUILD A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE CRIME AND IMPROVE LIVABILITY
• INSTILL A GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY WHILE REDUCING THE FEAR OF CRIME
• CREATE A “SENSE OF COMMUNITY” AND PUT THE “NEIGHBOR” BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY WATCH PROGRAM
• ESTABLISH THE NEED FOR A CW PROGRAM
• SELECT A CHAIRPERSON AND BLOCK CAPTAINS TO ORGANIZE THE CW PROGRAM
• SELECT A LOCATION TO HOLDTHE CW START-UP MEETING
• SELECT A DATE AND TIME FOR THE CW START-UP MEETING
• CONTACT THE CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER TO PRESENT THE CW PROGRAM TO THE GROUP
• PREPARE AN AGENDA FOR THE CW START-UP MEETING
• INVITE YOUR NEIGHBORS TO THE CW START-UP MEETING
RESPONSIBILITIES
CHAIRPERSON —THE CHAIRPERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE OPERATION OF THE CW PROGRAM IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
• WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS OF THE CW PROGRAM
• HANDLE INCOMING CALLS/EMAILS FROM THE BLOCK CAPTAINS
• REVIEW THE PROGRESS ON THE CW PROGRAM
• PASS ON INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE RALEIGH PD
• INSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS HOLDING REGULAR CW/HOA MEETINGS
• ARRANGE FOR THE CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER TO PROVIDE TOPIC SPECIFIC TRAINING (I.E.: HOME SECURITY, OPERATION ID, REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY)
• MAINTAIN A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF BLOCK CAPTAINS (I.E.: NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE AND EMAIL ADDRESS) AND CW PARTICIPANTS
BLOCK CAPTAINS —THE BLOCK CAPTAINS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THEIR NEIGHBORS INVOLVED IN THE CW PROGRAM.
• DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE CHAIRPERSON VIA TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR NEWSLETTER
• CREATE A BLOCK MAP WITH THE CURRENT INFORMATION OF THEIR NEIGHBORS (I.E.: NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE AND EMAIL ADDRESS)
• KEEP TRACK OF ANY MEDICAL PROBLEMS OR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES THEIR NEIGHBORS HAVE
• COORDINATE ALL ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR BLOCK AND NEIGHBORS THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
• GREET ANY NEW NEIGHBORS THAT MOVE INTO THEIR COMMUNITY AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE CW PROGRAM
• SERVE AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE CHAIRPERSON AND THE NEIGHBORS THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
BIGGEST KILLERS OF A COMMUNITY WATCH PROGRAM
• LACK OF CLEAR AND VARIED GOALS
• LACK OF STRONG COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
• LACK OF ONGOING LEADERSHIP
PURPOSE OF A COMMUNITY WATCH PROGRAM IN YOUR COMMUNITY
• REDUCING THE RISK OF BEGIN A CRIME VICTIM
• BEING BETTER PREPARED TO RESPOND TO SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
• GREATER ACCESS TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INFORMATION
• GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS
• REDUCING THE FEAR OF CRIME AND MAKING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MORE LIVABLE
• ALLOWING OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN TO BE ADDRESSED
• RECEIVE A CW SIGN TO POST IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY WATCH PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL?
• MUST GET EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.
(YOUNG / OLD, MARRIED / SINGLE, HOMEOWNER I RENTER)
• COMMUNICATE WITH THE CW PARTICIPANTS
> PEOPLE HAVE A NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE GROUP
> PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL LIKE THEIR IDEAS AND INPUT ARE VALUED
> PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL THAT THE CW PROGRAM IS WORKING
MAINTAINING AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY WATCH PROGRAM
• HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS
• SHARE INFORMATION (GOOD OR BAD) WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY
• MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS SHOULD BE TO THE POINT AND TIMELY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET IT ON THEIR CALENDAR
• ENCOURAGE BLOCK CAPTAINS AND OTHER NEIGHBORS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE A LEADING ROLE AT MEETINGS
• KEEP MEETINGS BRIEF AND ON TARGET
• DEVELOP A NEWSLETTER TO KEEP YOUR NEIGHBORS INFORMED — DISTRIBUTE ON A REGULAR BASIS
• DEVELOP A WEBSITE TO KEEP YOUR NEIGHBORS INFORMED
• DEVELOP AN EMAIL TREE TO KEEP YOUR NEIGHBORS INFORMED
• DEVELOP AN ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD WHERE YOUR NEIGHBORS CAN HAVE AN ONGOING DIALOG WITH EACH OTHER
• RECOGNIZE YOUR NEIGHBORS FOR THE GOOD THINGS THEY DO WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY
• MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT YOU ARE GETTING THINGS DONE
• ENCOURAGE SOCIAL EVENTS WHERE YOU CAN COMMUNICATE MORE INFORMALLY
• BE CONSCIOUS OF THE TONE OF VOICE AND LANGUAGE USED WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE
COMMUNITY WATCH PARTICIPANTS
• Do NOT TAKE ANY RISKS TO PREVENT A CRIME OR TRY TO MAKE AN ARREST “ IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO BE A GOOD WITNESS*
• PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL (IE: CLOTHING, TAG NUMBER, DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND ETC.) WHEN OBSERVING SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE, VEHICLES OR ACTIVITES AND REPORT THEIR OBSERVATIONS TO OTHER NEIGHBORS, BLOCK CAPTAINS, CHAIRPERSON AND THE RALEIGH PD WHEN NECESSARY.
• KEEP AN EYE ON THEIR NEIGHBORS’ HOUSE AND REPORT ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
• GET TO KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS’ NAMES AND ARE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND THEIR VEHICLES WITHOUT ANY HESITATION
• NOTIFY A TRUSTED NEIGHBOR WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE AWAY SO THEY CAN WATCH THE HOUSE AND PICK-UP THE MAIL AND/OR NEWSPAPER
• ATTEND AS MANY CW/HOA MEETINGS AS POSSIBLE
• IMPLEMENT ALL SECURITY MEASURES SUGGESTED BY THE RALEIGH PD
• PROPERLY IDENTIFY ALL PROPERTY USING THE OPERATION ID GUIDELINES
COMMUNITY WATCH IS Not
• A VIGILANTE FORCE WORKING OUTSIDE THE NORMAL PROCEDURES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
• A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR PARTICIPANTS TO TAKE PERSONAL RISKS TO PREVENT CRIME
• A 100% GUARANTEE THAT CRIME WILL NOT OCCUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
RESOURCES
National Association of Town Watch - www.natw.org/natw/
NC Department of Crime Control and Public Safety - nccrimecontrol.org/
National Crime Prevention Council - www.ncpc.org
McGruff - mcgruff.org/
IMPORTANT CITY NUMBERS
Abandoned vehicles/Towed vehicles 807-5110 (Private Property)
Abandoned vehicles - 890-3335 (city streets)
Animal Control —831 -6005
Crime Stoppers — 226-2746 (CRIME)
Gang Tip Line — 890-3904
Graffiti —831 -6001
Noise Complaints -911
Police Information Desk- 890-3335
Street Light Repair — 508-5400
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