• The Best Crime Stopper
• Lookout Tips
• Apartment Watch
• Thwart Car Theft
• Telephone Fraud
• Top 10 Lists

A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is an organized effort by concerned residents to look out for each other's safety, and to help law enforcement officers protect people and their homes against criminals. It shows people how to cooperate with each other, and with police, in a common cause -- safe homes and neighborhoods.

Working together, neighbors learn how to safeguard each other's homes and reduce the risk of crime. They become more alert to unusual or suspicious circumstances, individuals, or vehicles. They learn that it is better to call the police when they see something suspicious, even if their suspicion proves unfounded, rather than to keep quiet and risk letting a neighbor be victimized by criminals.

As a member of a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, it will be your responsibility to call the police about all suspicious activity in your neighborhood. You and your fellow members should report any unusual situations, such as:

• A stranger entering a neighbor's home or apartment that appears to be unoccupied.
• Anyone looking into parked cars, or removing parts, gasoline, or license plates from a car.
• Anyone entering or leaving a place of business after hours, or loitering outside.
• Breaking glass, gunshots, screams or abnormally barking dogs.
• Anyone loitering around the neighborhood, schools, or parks.
• Anyone going door-to-door who tries to open a door, or goes into a backyard.
• Anyone carrying unwrapped property at any unusual time, or running while carrying property.
• Any vehicle cruising slowly back and forth on your street.
• Any abandoned vehicle on your street.
• Windows or doors recently broken at a home or business.
• Anyone sitting in a parked car, especially at an unusual hour, outside a home or business.

• What happened? Where? When? How? Who did it?
• If a vehicle was involved, what was its license plate? Color? Make? Model? Year? Which way did it go when it left?
• How many people were in the vehicle? Were they armed? What was their sex? Race? Age? Height? Weight? Hair color? Clothing? Shoes? Any unusual characteristics?
• Did they say anything?

The corner store where you stop for milk and bread should also be part of your NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH program, even if the owner and employees live in other sections of town. They too worry about safety in the neighborhood, at least as much as you and your neighbors do. After all, an area of town where crime finds success is an area where business people will not.

Businesses in your area are part of the neighborhood, too, and consideration of their vulnerability to crime should be a neighborhood concern. Somebody getting away with the burglary of the liquor store down the street doesn't just mean the store lost money; it means crime has come to your neighborhood.

Invite local business people to block meetings and give them the opportunity to voice their concerns and offer their suggestions for improving neighborhood security. Help protect their businesses -- call the police if you see something suspicious or if you hear a burglar alarm ring.

By working together with local businesses, you can make your neighborhood a safer place to live and work.

For those who want to participate in or organize a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH program in their neighborhood should contact the LCAC Safe Neighborhoods Committee at 444-1746.