A neighborhood alert is a way for neighbors to keep one another informed about suspicious activity. These programs allow for a stronger partnership between residents and law enforcement. They also help to deter criminals from entering a community and may even prevent burglaries or vandalism of homes, businesses, and vehicles. In addition, these programs are often accompanied by community-based crime reduction initiatives that focus on social problems, like drug awareness, tutoring, sports clubs, etc.
Generally speaking, neighborhood watch is an organized group of citizens concerned with crime prevention within their community (Stegenga 2000). The National Sheriffs’ Association manages the national Neighborhood Watch program and encourages communities to adopt this model for their safety. These programs typically involve educating citizens on how to recognize suspicious behavior, reducing opportunities for crime, and encouraging active patrols by community members.
A good example of this is the Alice Springs Hospital in Australia which implemented a neighborhood watch program to increase security in and around the hospital, as it was not possible to employ enough staff to monitor the entire facility at all times. The result was a noticeable decrease in theft and other criminal activities.
The most successful neighborhood watch programs incorporate the use of home security systems. This is because criminals are less likely to target a home that they think has an alarm or video surveillance system in place. It is important for neighborhood watch volunteers to be aware that they should only report their observations and not take any action themselves. This is why it’s a good idea to include a tip line that your neighbors can call to let others know that they will be out of town for an extended period of time so that other members of the community can keep an eye on their property in case of any unusual activity.