The American neighborhood comes in different forms of ethnicity, age, and class and sometimes the American neighborhood is a combination of all.  If I were to ask you to describe your neighborhood, you could probably do it with surprisingly accurate clarity right down to the smell.  That's because you know your neighborhood best.  You know which houses have what cars, who display the American flag, who likes to work on their old Chevy parked in their garage, and what kids play catch with a football in the middle of the street.  That's why it's you who makes the best watchdog.  Neighborhood watch groups know this and they thrive on it.

          What is a Neighborhood Watch Group?  

          A neighborhood watch group is an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention.  It builds on the concept of a “town watch” from Colonial America.  Neighborhood watch groups are not vigilantes.  Members are trained to call the police when they see something suspicious, though they are also taught self-defense.

          How does a Neighborhood Watch Group operate?

            Neighborhood watch groups work basically the same way.  Meetings are held (they can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) where members discuss safety, home security issues, and recent criminal activity, if any.  If your group chooses, daily patrols can be assigned where an assigned pair of neighbors walks the streets.  The police are sometimes invited to the meetings and provide useful information such as how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim and how to recognize and report suspicious activity.  Meetings also give neighbors the opportunity to get to know and talk with other neighbors.  On occasion, there are sometimes block parties where the street is blocked off and neighbors eat and mingle with each other.    

          How do I form a Neighborhood Watch group?

            To form a neighborhood watch group you should call the local Crime Prevention Office that each city should provide.  You should look for guidance and support from them.  Schedule a meeting with neighbors by handing out fliers and going door to door.  At the meeting form a neighborhood watch structure choosing a block coordinator and block captain.  Don't forget to make a list of phone numbers and names of everyone who attended.

            Do Neighborhood Watch Groups have an impact?

            Neighborhood watch groups create a greater awareness of crime, increase reporting of crime and suspicious activity, and serve as a warning to criminals.  But do they have an impact?  The answer is yes.  That's according to the National Crime Prevention Council which reports that 40% of Americans live in areas covered by neighborhood watch groups.  Of that 40% there has been an average reduction of crime by 16%.    

          The current American system of neighborhood watches began developing in the late 1960's, Followed by a concentrated nationwide effort in 1972 by the National Sheriff's Association to revise the “watch group."  Today there are annual “Night Out” parties which celebrate neighborhood watch groups and bring together neighbors and police.  As crime grows in the U.S. certainly so will the effort to fight it.