Neighborhood Block Watch Participation

GlennM1 - Great success story!! Hold a meeting and distribute an informative flyer to the other divisions inviting them to attend so they can learn of the success of your Block Watch Program. GeraldT1

I would think the signs are an important part of the block watch program.

In our area they are attached to street sign posts. It would seem that your covenants should allow this, or at least the board could allow a variance for these signs which are security related for the benefit of the neighborhood.

Bill

We are in a gated community and are just now beginning to think about getting a block watch program. Other sub communities within our master community are also gated and they have the street signs. The Police department recommends the signs in every block watch neighborhood, gated or not.

I also believe block watch signs are equally relevent in gated communities, because the gates don't stop people from coming in. Non-residents only have to follow another car as they enter the gate. Many vendors have the gate code, and they can come in at will.

It's the people who don't live in the community that you want to let know that the block watch program exists. That's where I feel the signs are helpful.

Ocassionally we will see a bicyclist who does not live in the neighborhood cruising our streets, or someone walking, who does not live here. About once in every three months a solicitor will not heed our no-soliciting sign at the gated entrance, and go door to door.

We are a sub community in a large master community, and this week there was a child molestation in our club house area. This happened at around 11:00AM on the grounds of the club house. This is an area where everyone would feel safe and never dream that this would happen to a child at this private location in broad daylight.

It should be a wake up call to everyone that no place is safe, and parents should always keep an eye on their small children when they are in a public place, in a private club house grounds such as ours, or playing in their own yard.

There were many people on the club house grounds at the time, but most were near the swimming pool area where a swim team was practicing. The girl had walked up the path on the small mountain on the grounds that is surrounded by waterfalls, and a gazebo at the top, where Santa Clause appears during Christmas.

After the molestaltion the girl either escaped or was released and ran to report the incident. The Police arrived very quickly. They have a composite sketch, but the suspect is still at large.

The area all around the club house is fenced and people entering are supposed to show ID to the desk clerk.

The following evening the Police Dept held a public meeting to discuss what they are doing to find the perpretrator, and to ask for the public assistance.

They told us that when we have solicitors who don't live in the neighborhood that we should call the police and they will be there in 5 minutes. We plan on doing that the next time, by politely telling the solicitor that we are not interested, then close the door and call the police.

We'll watch from a front window to keep the police informed as to where the solicitor is. If a block watch program is installed by that time we will be able to contact the neighbors and possibly set up a delaying tactic until the Police arrive. By soliciting door to door in a private gated area with no-soliciting signs posted at the gate, they are trespassing so the Police can arrest them.

Bill

SwanB,

Neighborhood Block Watch Participation is the subject of this thread. My post was not debating anything with anyone. I simply stated my opinion on the subject along with the factors behind my reasoning.

Perhaps there are others that are contemplating block watch programs and by hearing various opinions they will be able to settle on a method that suits their community, just as you have. Hearing various opinions on subjects is one of the values of this forum.

Bill

You realize you responding to a SIX year old post?!?

Old or not post. The day my neighborhood needs a crime watch is the day my house goes on the market....and I am outta there.

Anymore if we see a strange vehicle and individual(s) parked in the neighborhood I or someone else will ask questions. Reason being is a neighboring subdivision had an Owner advertising to rent their home. A few weeks later there was a small U-Haul backed up to the garage and the neighbors thought “how nice they finally rented the home”. Instead it was a couple of criminals who had cased the home, determined it was empty, broke in and then proceeded to steal all the appliances in broad daylight.

Old or new, this is still good information. We need a Neighborhood Watch. Our Citizens Observer Patrol is not sufficient. There is not enough volunteers, the ones there are senior, and retired, but do not have alot of time on their hands.