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Subject: Neighborhood Block Watch Participation

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GlennM1
(Washington)

Posts:15

06/30/2006 1:09 AM
I live in a HOA community that has 148 homes. We are all separated geographicaly, by "divisions". I started a Neighborhood Block Watch Program last year in my division and have 100% participation. There are 15 units in my division. I purchased signs and materials and was promptly reimbursed by the BOD/Mgmt. Company. I was invited to a board meeting to brief the board members on the program. I agreed to support the other divisions with implementing Block Watch Programs in their respective divisions, and informed the BOD that I was not willing or able to purchase additional signs and materials for the other divisions. We estimated a cost of around $500 for the materials. I need volunteers from every division to step up to the plate in order to implement Block Watch Programs in their own neighborhoods. How do I get at least 1 Block Watch volunteer from every division? I can't seem to get any BOD active support concerning implementation in our other divisions. What is my next action item on this issue?

Glenn Mounts

GeraldT1

Posts:0

06/30/2006 5:12 AM
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

SwanB
(Washington)

Posts:194

06/30/2006 5:31 AM
We had a neighborhood Block Watch program in our HOA too. The sheriff involved with the Community Block Watch program came out and delivered the first packet of information and gave a very informative workshop to our members about three years ago. Unfortunately, the member who attempted to organize the Block Watch program and run it was not competent with organizational skills and ended up being one of three Block Watch participants. She had ten Block Watch captains listed but calls to six of them revealed they were not aware of their appointment to the position or what their duties were as Block Watch captains within our association. Their Block Watch reports consisted mainly of property violations and rental violations within our association which isn't the purpose of a Block Watch program...very 'Big Brother' mentality. As a Board member I was pushed to pulling this individual out of her position as our Block Watch coordinator. Inevitably this course of action was viewed as being anti-Block Watch. It is fairly easy to get Block Watch materials from your local Sheriff or Police Department coordinator. Our first batch was free and we then had to purchase anything afterwards. However we didn't put signs up in our association because we have a covenant concerning signs.

WilliamT
(Arizona)

Posts:489

06/30/2006 5:41 AM
Posted By SwanB on 06/30/2006 5:31 AM However we didn't put signs up in our association because we have a covenant concerning signs. 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

SwanB
(Washington)

Posts:194

06/30/2006 5:51 AM
We are a gated community and our roads are private. I would think Block Watch signs are more relevant to a community that is open to the public. The members of our community are aware of the existence of the Block Watch program as they receive the information in their New Member Packet. Now whether they read it or not is their business. However most of our members do contact us about it.

WilliamT
(Arizona)

Posts:489

06/30/2006 6:33 AM
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
(Washington)

Posts:194

06/30/2006 6:43 AM
What a horrible thing to happen. As soon as I typed 'we are a gated community with private roads' I knew I was going to hit a controversial button and don't want our choice to not use Block Watch signs to become the topic. Each association does what fits right for them. This is our choice for our own reasons and really isn't a debatable point. I do agree that a simple gate does not keep the bad ones out. We utilized the program when we had a string of break-ins that were obviously a result of bored teens. At that point and as Violations Director I divided our association into 'blocks' and found full-timers who were willing participants to be the Block captains. Their understood duties were to contact their phone tree when incidents occured within their designated 'block'. The contacts were either by phone, snail mail or email (if our office had an email authorization on file). This was a simple system to coordinate as Violations Director because all I needed to do was call five Block Captains or email them with news and they would initiate their phone trees. Right now we are simply waiting for the right volunteer to fill the Block Watch coordinator position and get if off my overburdened shoulders.

WilliamT
(Arizona)

Posts:489

06/30/2006 9:13 AM
Posted By SwanB on 06/30/2006 6:43 AM As soon as I typed 'we are a gated community with private roads' I knew I was going to hit a controversial button and don't want our choice to not use Block Watch signs to become the topic. Each association does what fits right for them. This is our choice for our own reasons and really isn't a debatable point. 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

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