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Recent MEETINGS Read About It! - The last Neighborhood Watch meeting was held 8/24/01 Recent NEWS 8-28-01 Subject: Information Site A few days ago I sent you all a site where you can get a lot of information when you sign up for it. The site's name was www.publicdata.com. I just received an email from then that will give me and you an extra bonus of 100 lookups if you use the following URL to sign up: www.PublicData.com/cgi-win/bonus.exe?Process=BR+din=006966233,TX It has to be entered exactly or it won't come up. Use all capitals and lower case as shown. 8-26-01 - I forgot to mention in my last email concerning Neighborhood Watch Meeting that Deputy Munoz suggested a site where you can find out a whole lot of info on anyone. the info you can get is as listed: Criminal Records Sex Offenders Driver's License Voter Records Civil Court License Plates Vehicle ID (VIN #) Professional (TX medical, DOB) Federal Social Security #'s This is the site I go to when I get an intruder in WOL, also this is where I got the list of sex offenders living not far from here. I signed up for $25.00 and that gives me 650 searches (I think that is correct) and each search costs 10 cents, so it is a valuable tool. If you don't want to spend the money to find something out, please call me and I will do it for you. I have already done it for several WOL neighbors as well as Oak Cliff Place. Nathan Gaskill WOL Neighborhood Watch Chairperson Ph: 281-897-0577 7-5-01 - This morning July 5th between 8:05 & 8:35am, a home on Perigrine was
illeglly 7/5 I just got word at 4:50pm today from the neighbor on Perigrine that the two suspects were caught and are in custody. Also 75% of the stolen property was recovered including the three pistols and phones. Neighbors, this is good news and proves that law enforcement does work. Nathan Gaskill WOL Neighborhood Watch Co-Chair Ph: 281-897-0577 7/6 The invasion on Perigrine neighbor called me at 4pm today, and told
Crime Prevention A Crime Watch kickoff meeting will be held May 3rd the at the park @ 7pm! Nathan Gaskill 281-897-0577 and Stewart Angst 281-955-1203 are our Crime Watch Committee contacts. Email Stewart at jangst@ houston.rr.com Does your block have a crime watch block captain yet? There are currently 3 Block Captains in WOL. We need 15 to 22 captains for our 18
streets. At least 5 streets should have two captains. Jump to Houston Crime Stoppers Site HPD Tips for protecting our homes!
WHAT IS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH? Very few people are in a position to protect their homes and property 100% of the time. Vacation, business and shopping trips, or even an evening out will leave homes unattended and vulnerable to theft. Neighborhood 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 one's neighbors and introducing them to the concept of Neighborhood Watch--that is good neighbors working together, alert to the potential of crime, and willing to look out for one another's interests. Neighbors working together through Neighborhood Watch can combat crime in their area the most effective way--before it starts! One important criterion to ensure a well maintained Neighborhood Watch Program is to have a minimum of 60% participation!! Citizens offer open invitations to criminals every day when they leave their doors unlocked, advertise their absence from hone with an unlit house, piled up newspapers, or leave cars keys in their ignition. When formulating a crime control strategy, one must consider which course is more effective and less costly: HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD - A GUARD AT EVERY DOOR OR ADEQUATE LIGHTING, SECURE HOMES AND WATCHFUL NEIGHBORS. It would appear that crime prevention is the most logical and most economical approach to take in crime control. Neighborhood Watch provides a means of reducing the opportunity for crime to occur, through the active participation of citizens in crime prevention. Citizens are taught how to make their property less inviting as a target for thieves; how to participate in Operation Identification, making their property less desirable to burglars; and how to be alert to suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. PRIMARY OBJECECTIVES OF
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH 1. Maintain, at a minimum level of 6O% residence participation, a cooperative system of surveillance over one another's property, children, etc. 2 Report suspicious activity or persons or crimes in progress to the Sheriff- accurately and immediately. 2. Mutually assist and encourage the accomplishment of homne security inspections, target hardening and property marking activities by all neighborhood residents. 3. Assist the victims of crime and assist in their readjustment to normalcy. 5. Encourage citizens to come forward as witnesses. 6. Help elderly citizens and children to protect themselves against being a victim of a criminal and push for additional projects to protect these special groups of persons whenever necessary. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AND THE THEORY OF REDUCTION OF OPPORTUNITY MOST RESIDENTIAL CRIMES OCCUR BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT THEM EXISTED !! Opportunity may be divided into two categories: 1. The opportunity created by the victim through carelessness, lack of attention to security and failure to cooperate with neighbors. 2. The opportunity created by the criminal, by his skill, ruthlessness, and daring. The latter category describes the professional criminal. It is believed by law enforcement that a small minority of crime is resultant from professional criminal activity. The bulk of crime involves skilled or unskilled amateurs and centers on opportunities created by the victims themselves.
DUTIES OF NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
CHAIRPERSON THE APPOINIMENT OF THE PROPER CHAIRPERSON CAN DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM. THIS PERSON SHOULD HAVE PRESTIGE WITHIN THE COMONITY, AN ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE, AND SOME FREE TIME FOR ACTIVITIES. THE CHAIRPERSON SHOULD PRESIDE OVER ALL MEETINGS AS WELL AS: · Set up the initial meeting to explain the concept of Neighborhood Watch. · Obtain block captains in the neighborhood and set up a file with their names, addresses, and phone number (home and Work). · Serve as liaison between Neighborhood Watch group and the Community Relations Officer assigned to the program. · Assist in the development of any program that would be beneficial to the community. · Keep a master list of all participants in the Neighborhood Watch Program. · Distribute information and necessary materials to block captains, from the community Relations Officer, on Crime Prevention. · Schedule location for monthly meetings as well as obtaining speakers for the program. · Welcome new neighbors to the community and encourage their participation in Neighborhood Watch. · Keep a master list on emergency telephone notification system 1. Block Captains shall compile a list of all those on his/her block who wish to participate, as well as their addresses and phone numbers. 2. Block Captains shall relay telephone calls from the Neighborhood Chairperson to back-up Captains in the block. If one of the persons is not at home, try at another time. 3. Block Captains shall distribute literature to Crime Watchers when necessary. 4. Block Captains shall assist Neighborhood Chairperson with meetings. 5. Block Captains should maintain a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of other Block Captains in the neighborhood. 6. Block Captains shall report to the Neighborhood Chairperson any arrest resulting from information from Block Watchers and any reports of suspicious vehicles or persons. HOW THE TELEPHONE CHAIN WORKS * *GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS** 1. Determine from neighbors best time to call to relay the chain. Ask whether they wish to be called during the night in emergency situations. Sample: (Burglar running in general direction of neighbor's homes or adjoining blocks) 2. When you are going to be away, notify your Neighborhood Chairperson and Block Captain. 3. Report anything suspicious to the Sheriff. We would prefer to spend 10 minutes checking out a report, than 10 days following up a crime already committed. 4. When call originates from the Sheriff's investigating a crime rather than neighbors, give information to the Sheriff only and do not call victim. 5. Do not call victims just to learn more about a case or sympathize. Call only if you need more information to substantiate your observations of suspicious activity. Report these observations to the Sheriff's Dept. 6. When you learn that your report had led to the arrest of a suspect, obtain as much information as possible and inform your Neighborhood Chairperson. 7. NEVER confront a suspect!! This is dangerous!! 8. YOU ARE NOT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT - YOU WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPT. 9. As a Crime Watcher you are the eyes and ears of the Sheriff. Your importance as a Crime Watcher cannot be overemphasized. Remember this as you serve your community. Your part in the chain: · Keep pen and special phone pad near the phone at all times to write down information given to you. · Be brief and precise in all calls. · This is not a social call! Discuss only the issue at hand and quickly. · Relay information exactly as it is given to you. Do not delete from or add to the information given to you. · Repeat it to the person calling for your accuracy. · Information from the Sheriff is Confidential and is to be shared only with Crime Watchers. · Make your calls as soon as possible! · If you have been victimized or have seen a suspect or vehicle reported in the Chain call your Block Captain and/or Chairperson. PROCEDURE FOR REPORTING TO
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT It is extremely important that you become thoroughly familiar with all instructions on this page so that if the time comes that you must function as a Crime Watcher to report suspicious activities, a crime in progress, or an emergency ----- you will be prepared. 1. IDENTIFY YOURSELF (Name, address, phone number) 2. TYPE OF CRIME - BURGLAR, ASSAULT, SUSPICIOUS PERSON(S) OR VEHICLES, ETC. 3. IS THE CRIME IN PROGRESS 4. WHERE IS IT (Name of building or landmark if no specific address can be given) 5. IS THE SUSPECT ARMED? WITH WHAT - KNIFE, GUN, ETC. 6. DESCRIPTION OF PERSON(S) AND/OR VEHICLE PLEASE BE SPECIFIC!!! 7. DIRECTION IN WHICH SUSPECT WAS TRAVELING. 8. (IF KNOWN) WHAT WAS TAKEN. 9. (IF KNOWN) HOW WAS ENTRY GAINED - DOOR, WINDOW, ETC. HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OFFICE - 1301 Franklin PHONE - EMERGENCY 713-221-6000 PHONE-BUSINESS 463-2648 NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GENERAL INFORMATION FOR
INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS 1. Suspicious incident/or crime in progress in neighborhood: A. First call is to the Sheriff's Department. Block Captain should be notified as soon as possible in case the suspect is still in the area. Captain sets a visual fence around the area by calling others in the chain. This could aid the Sheriff's department in tracking the suspect if he attempts to flee the scene. B. Block Captains should notify the Chairperson as soon as possible after setting up the visual perimeter. This would be helpful, should the area of search need to be broadened. Neighborhood Chairperson alerts other Block Captains in the immediate vicinity, should it become necessary. 2. Suspicious Vehicle/Suspicious Persons Calls A. These situations should be handled with care and common sense. Many times the "suspicious" label is applied because the vehicle or person is out of his apparent environment, example: a beaten up van in an upper class residential area. B. Keep in mind that there are no laws or ordinances specifying where or when any vehicle or person may travel on public roadways. C. If a vehicle is parked in your area an extensive period of time or is observed cruising repeatedly through the area, or if a person is loitering in the area; get a license number, description, note what appeared to be suspicious and call the Sheriff's Department. A large percentage of calls do assist in the apprehension of criminals. D. Block Captains should be informed of sightings of these vehicles or persons to be passed on to the Chairperson E. If possible to obtain the license number of a suspicious vehicle without jeopardizing your safety, log the date, time, location, number, and vehicle description and forward to the Sheriff's Department when they arrive. The KEY is Communications and Information. You are NOT expected to solve the crimes, nor are you to interfere with the investigation. But you are in a position to gather and provide information to the Sheriff's Department through the Crime Watch Telephone Chain. HOW TO MAKE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH WORK!! 1. Talk it up. Keep people thinking about Neighborhood Watch remind your neighbors of the importance of observance of suspicious activity and criminal activity, and reporting it to the Sheriff's Department. Getting people to REMEMBER to get off the couch and check the area is probably the hardest part of the Neighborhood Watch. 2. Try to socialize your neighborhood. The most effective Neighborhood Watch Groups have been in areas which have an active Civic Association that holds monthly meetings and sponsors social gatherings, picnics and other events. Getting your neighbors to know each other and develop friendships is a key to getting people concerned about each others welfare and threats to their security. 3. Try to "clean up" your neighborhood. An unkempt area, unsightly lawns, junk stored by houses, unpainted houses, decaying fences, and trash strewn around are a statement that people don't care, and are an open invitation to burglars and vandals. Studies have shown that the appearance of an area is influential in discouraging intruders. Another point found effective in turning away criminals is delineating property boundaries with foliage, and fencing - not necessarily chain link or privacy fences, even a low white picket fence says, "This is my property, keep out." The same effect has been achieved in apartment complexes by using different colored carpeting and doorways for each apartment entrance. Sometimes psychological barriers can be as strong as physical ones. 4. Brighten your neighborhood. While many burglaries occur in the morning, a number occur at night and almost all vandalism occurs at night. The best and cheapest deterrent to night-time criminal activity is lighting. Football field lighting is not necessary, just enough to enable a resident to recognize a prowler, or to make a prowler think he can be recognized. Many options are available, including formation of a street lighting district, to shared installation of dawn to dusk lights in back yards. Some power companies will install this type lighting on existing utility poles for a flat monthly fee. Again this measure is more psychological than physical, but it works. MAINTAINING THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
PROGRAM It may be difficult to keep up the initial enthusiasm of the Neighborhood Watch Group. As crime is lessened in your area, residents may become less interested in attending meetings, while still remaining concerned about crime. Your Community Relations Officer will be able to continue assistance as needed. Strong leadership is essential to maintain the active involvement of the community in the Neighborhood Watch Program. The Chairperson and Captains vitally interested in the security of the neighborhood, are decidedly as asset in motivating the group to realize their objectives. The Block Captains may get involved in training other Block Captains as well as a replacement should he/she move from the community. As crime is lessened within the community, citizens may broaden their scope to maintain the functioning of the group. Residents may concern themselves with the total quality of living in their neighborhood. Community pride may be strong motivation in maintaining the program. The continued value of citizen involvement in protecting their neighborhood is the primary concern!!
Citizens Against Crime 1022 S Greenville Ave Allen, TX
75002-3327 "Without community involvement, we're nothing." So said a veteran street cop who, in his years and years of patrol work, had seen it all. Including the positive effect that citizen involvement has on crime. In those areas where citizens had come together in partnership with police, crime decreased and wounded neighborhoods began to heal. In some cases progress was slow; in others it was dramatic. The fear went away. Children played on streets they once avoided and neighbors sat on their porches again. Thanks to citizen action criminals no longer owned these streets. That beat cop knew what most of us have yet to learn: change will happen only when people decide they've had enough. Too many people believe that the job of crime prevention rests solely in the hands of the police. They don't understand that our law enforcement agencies have become largely reactive, running to answer one radio call after another. Today's patrol officer has very little time to do his job proactively. Community-based policing is changing this but, for the most part, police remain greatly overworked. They can't be everywhere; they can't see and know everything. What if we were to lend them a hand? Citizen patrols are the most effective visible deterrent we can use to take back our streets. Trained, alert citizens whose sole purpose is to see and report crime can stop criminals cold. By putting citizen observers on the street, we say through action what words alone can never convey: this is our neighborhood and we're taking it back! When citizens come together they become a powerful force against crime. Not only is their presence a visual deterrent, their eyes and ears can gather vital information which police can use to catch criminals and solve crimes. That's how change comes about; that's how we foil criminals. Until we take a hand in our own destiny and fight back, we will continue to lose our communities to crime. Check with your local law enforcement agency. Most will be glad to provide information about and/or assistance in setting up a "Neighborhood Crime Patrol." |
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