According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, crimes have a lasting effect on communities as well as individuals. A Neighborhood Watch program can help to decrease crime and bring your community together. Learn to launch a Neighborhood Watch program in your community. Learn more about Neighborhood Watch by visiting http://www.HomeownerResources.com.

1. How to Launch Neighborhood
Watch Program in Your
Community

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Neighborhood Watch
title style
• According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, crimes have a
lasting effect on communities as well as individuals.
• A Neighborhood Watch program can help to decrease crime and
bring your community together.
What is a Neighborhood Watch Program?
According to the USAOnWatch.org, the national Neighborhood Watch
organization and a part of the National Sheriffs’ Association, a
neighborhood watch allows citizens to help in the fight against crime
and offers an opportunity for communities to bond through service.

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Neighborhood Watch
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Steps for Starting a Neighborhood Watch Program
1. Get educated.
 You can sign up your neighborhood watch group at
USAOnWatch.org (http://www.usaonwatch.org/register/default.aspx) to
gain additional resources to help you organize and manage your
group.
 USAonWatch.org offers a brochure that will help you explain the benefits
of the organization to community members.
(http://www.usaonwatch.org/assets/sample_docs/Neighborhood_WatchDraft12-12.pdf)
 You will also want to gather facts about crime statistics in your
neighborhood.

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Neighborhood Watch
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Steps for Starting a Neighborhood Watch Program
2. Organize your core group of Neighborhood Watch volunteers.
 Talk to your neighbors and invite them to attend an initial
presentation.
 Making one-on-one connections by going door to door is often the
best way to reach prospective volunteers.
 One person per 8 to 10 households is typically recommended.
 Choose an optimal night of the week for the introductory
presentation; weekends are not advised for best attendance.

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Neighborhood Watch
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Steps for Starting a Neighborhood Watch Program
3. Contact your local law enforcement agency and invite them to
participate.
 Invite them to meet with your group.
 This will create a valuable communication channel with your local
agency.
 Law enforcement should be able to share valuable information
about how to keep your community members safe and how to
handle incidents should they occur.

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Neighborhood Watch
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Steps for Starting a Neighborhood Watch Program
4. Provide training.
 Local law enforcement can often provide training for Neighborhood
Watch volunteers including learning how to report suspicious activity
and crime prevention techniques such as home security, personal
safety and Operation Identification.
 Specialized training for the coordinator and Block captains is also
often provided.

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Neighborhood Watch
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Steps for Starting a Neighborhood Watch Program
5. Give community members a forum to share concerns and
develop an action plan.
 With or without your local law enforcement agency, you will want to
host a neighborhood meeting to allow community members to
discuss issue and concerns.
 Having information about neighborhood crime statistics can be very
informative.
 Sometimes, residents' opinions are not supported by facts, and
accurate information can reduce the fear of crime.
 From this meeting, the neighborhood watch group can create a plan
for addressing the top concerns.

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Neighborhood Watch
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Steps for Starting a Neighborhood Watch Program
6. Decide on a communication and follow up plan.
 Talk to group members about how they wish to communicate and
be communicated with.
 Phone trees, email and social media can all be good options as long
as everyone agrees to the method of participation.
 Set up a regular monthly or more frequent meeting schedule to
engage community members and respond to issues.
 Regular newsletters and updates are also advised to keep the
community engaged.
 You can order Neighborhood Watch signs at USAonWatch.org.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
title style
Jason Tucker is VP of AAM Edge Sales, a dynamic
and exciting new online community from
Associated Asset Management that delivers
trusted and relevant information to homeowners.
Learn more about Neighborhood Watch by visiting
http://www.HomeownerResources.com.

10. Click to edit Master
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
title style
Jason Tucker is VP of AAM Edge Sales, a dynamic
and exciting new online community from
Associated Asset Management that delivers
trusted and relevant information to homeowners.
Learn more about Neighborhood Watch by visiting
http://www.HomeownerResources.com.