Neighborhood Crime Watch is a program of mutual assistance among neighbors aimed at reducing crime in the community at the grass roots level. It involves getting to know our neighbors and working together, being alert to the potential of crime, and being willing to look ot for one another's interests. Neighbors working together through Neighborhood Crime Watch can combat crime in their area the most effective way - BEFORE IT STARTS!
We are not in a position to protect our homes and property 100% of the time. While unattended our homes and community parks and pools are vulnerable to vandalism and theft. Residents offer an open invitation to criminals every day when they leave their doors unlocked, advertise their absence from home with an unlit house, piled up newspapers, or leave car keys in the ignition.
Crime prevention through adequate lighting, secure homes and watchful neighbors is the most logical and most economic approach to controlling crime. Neighborhood Crime Watch provides a means of reducing the opportunity for crime to occur, through the active participation of citizens in crime prevention.
Primary goals for the Neighborhood Watch program
To report suspicious activity, persons or crimes in progress to the Sheriff's Department accurately and immediately and to encourage residents to come forward as witnesses. Although, residents can choose to remain anonymous when calling the Sheriff, we encourage people to give their names to strengthen the case. To create an efficient network for communicating pertinent information from the Sheriff to all residents participating in the program. This will involve email and phone communications.
How is Neighborhood Crime Watch structured for Westcreek?
Neighborhood Crime Watch is a new program for Westcreek and Copperfield, and has never been implemented before. In 2006, the Westcreek Crime Watch Committee and the Westcreek Board are working with Sgt. Ruggiero to establish the program. The challenge is to take the formal program and making it functional and sustainable for our community. The program is being developed, and we expect it to be continually modified in order to keep as many people participating as possible. Participation will be structured to meet resident's needs. One key benefit of the Neighborhood Crime Watch program is that it provides an organized communication network for distribution of information. With this goal in mind, to get the program kicked off, we have developed the following organization structure.
Neighborhood Crime Watch Chairperson - This person will be a member of the Westcreek Crime Watch Committee, and should have prestige within the community, an ability to communicate, and free time. The Chairperson should preside over all meetings as well as:
- Set up the initial meeting to explain the concept of Neighborhood Crime Watch
- Obtain Block Captains in the neighborhood and set up a file with their names, addresses, and phone numbers.
- Serve as liaison between the Neighborhood Crime Watch group and the Sgt. Ruggiero.
- Keep a master list of all participants in the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program.
- Distribute information and necessary materials to Block Captains.
- Welcome new neighbors to the community and encourage their participation on the Neighborhood Crime Watch.
Block Captains - Block Captains will compile a list of all those on his/her block who wish to participate, as well as their addresses, email address, and telephone numbers. Block Captain responsibilities consist of:
- Distribute information (most often vial email) from the Chairperson and/or Sheriff's Department to Crime Watchers.
- Maintain a list of names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of other Block Captains in the neighborhood.
- Block Captain reports any suspicious vehicles or persons, or criminal activity, and relay pertinent information from participants to the Chairperson and Sheriff.
Individual Crime Watch Participants (Residents) - Be watchful of your surroundings and immediately report suspicious incident or crime in progress in the neighborhood. This involves being observant of your surroundings and watching out for your neighbors during your normal activities. This does not involve giving up your personal time to walk the neighborhood looking for crime. Furthermore, participants should not jeopardize their safety by confronting suspects. The most important part is for participants to call the Sheriff to report suspicious activity, and provide detailed information.
First call is to the Sheriff's Department - (713) 221-6000. Report suspicious vehicle/suspicious persons to the Sheriff and Block Captain. If possible, contact the Block Captain as soon as possible in case the suspect is still in the area. The Block Captain can call others in the network. This could aid the Sheriff's Department in tracing the suspect's movement.
If a vehicle is parked in the area for an extensive period of time or is observed cruising repeatedly through the area or if a person is loitering in the area, obtain a license number, description, note what appeared to be suspicious and call the Sheriff's Department (713) 221-6000. A large percentage of calls do assist in the apprehension of criminals. If possible, obtain the license number of a suspicious vehicle, without jeopardizing your safety - LOG the DATE, TIME, LOCATION, NUMBER and VEHICLE DESCRIPTION and forward it to the Sheriff's Department when they arrive.
Harris County Sheriff's Department Neighborhood Watch Info (MS Word format)