Neighborhood alert is a community-based crime prevention program in which neighbors are encouraged to watch out for each other’s homes, businesses and vehicles. This program is designed to deter criminal activity, such as burglary, theft and vandalism by increasing community awareness, facilitating communication among residents and local authorities, and promoting partnership between citizens and law enforcement.
Many neighborhoods and apartment communities have groups, pages or apps for communicating with neighbors. If yours does not, talk to your neighbors and association about getting it started. Also, the Tulsa Police Department offers free safety presentations for groups within the city limits.
If you are interested in starting a neighborhood watch, consult with your local police department or a crime prevention officer for assistance and resources. A good first step is to organize a group of neighbors that are committed to forming the watch. Once the group is established, it’s important to meet regularly and discuss how to best work together and report suspicious activities.
Keep in mind, Neighborhood Watch does not encourage neighbors to take action on their own if they observe suspicious behavior; rather, it is the role of each member to be alert and observant and then to report their observations to police. A neighbor should never attempt to confront a criminal or try to stop him or her in any way, but rather call the police and leave it up to trained law enforcement to act on those observations. Having a quick, easy, and secure way to notify the community of suspicious activity can save lives. Using DialMyCalls to send alerts is an easy way to keep neighbors informed and safe.