NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
PROGRAM
Neighborhood Watch was designed as a way to fight crime by preventing it before it occurs. The main concept of the program is for you to watch over your neighbor's house and for your neighbor to watch over your house. There are no civilian patrols or civilian car patrols needed for this program. Public apathy and easy opportunity are the greatest tools for the criminal . By participating in a Neighborhood Watch Program and following recommendations (security survey, Operation I. D. etc. ) made by the Crime Prevention Unit, you help to eliminate the criminal's two greatest tools.
Suburban and rural crime is now growing at more rapid rate than urban crime. The most common crimes are property crimes such as burglary, thefts, and vandalism. One of the reasons for this increasing crime rate is the distance between homes which makes it harder to observe your neighbor's property. Secondly, law enforcement agencies have a larger geographic area to patrol which makes quick response time more difficult. A third reason is the improved road system which makes most suburban and rural areas easily accessible to non-residents. These are some of the reasons why being a good witness takes on a new importance.
Past experiences have told us that most people don't like to call the police for fear of being embarrassed, "false alarms", didn't want to bother us, and retaliation. The following guidelines will help to put to rest some of your doubts and questions.
When should I call the police? The general rule of thumb is if the situation looks suspicious then it is suspicious. Trust your judgment and call the police. Nobody knows your neighborhood better than you do. You know the people, cars And activities that are normal in your neighborhood. YOU ARE THE EXPERT!
What should I report to the police? Suspicious cars, sound of breaking glass, suspicious persons, unoccupied vehicles with the motor running, parked cars in secluded areas (occupied or unoccupied), any found property, gunshots or firecrackers, screams, hang-up or suspicious phone calls. If you think it's a rumor, let the police investigate.
How do I report suspicious activity? First keep the phone number of the police by the telephone. Let the dispatcher know immediately the
nature of the call. This allows the dispatcher to give priority to the most
serious calls and to send a patrol car to investigate while additional
information is being obtained from you. The dispatcher will ask you certain
questions. These questions are asked so the police can contact you if they need
additional information later in their investigation; not so the person who is being investigated knows who reported them to the police. You will be asked your
name, address, telephone number, the exact location of the suspicious activity,
a recount of what you saw,
description of vehicles and people, and if they left,
when and in what direction. Stay on the phone. Don't hang up until you are told to. When you do hang up, don't go out to investigate on your own. You are more
important as a source of information and there have been cases of mistaken
identity by the police.
One of the most valuable pieces of information you can provide is a good description of the suspect. Important facts to remember when obtaining a description are:
Color of hair, skin and eyes
Facial features (shape of head, chin, nose,
etc.)
Approximate age
Height and Build (compare them to yourself or
spouse)
Unusual markings (scars, birthmarks, tattoos,
deformities, etc.)
Speech impediments and accents
Jewelry
Clothing
The best way to get a good description is to start at the head and work down.
Again, don't be afraid to call the police. You will feel and look much more foolish if you ignore something only to find out later that your neighbor's home was broken into.
GOAL: If everyone helps to prevent crime and make crime more difficult, it makes all our chances to become a victim less likely!
For additional information concerning Neighborhood Watch or Crime Prevention Programs, please feel free to contact the Crime Prevention Officer at 215-699-5861, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm.
Please be advised that the web site for Upper Gwynedd Watch Dog or any other independent web site is not a web site supported by Upper Gwynedd Township. Information on independent sites may not always be accurate. The official web site of Upper Gwynedd Township is www.uppergwynedd.org.
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