As long as there have been neighbors, there has been some form of a Neighborhood Watch Program. Why is a neighborhood watch so important? When people look out for each other, communities are safer.

Back before people were so mobile, they spent time on their porches and got to know their neighbors. Today, that’s not so much the norm anymore. These days, people move around a lot and lead busy lives. Most people don’t make getting to know their neighbors a priority. Think about it for a minute. Do you know most of your neighbors? Could they help you if you needed it and vice versa?

In this article, we’ll cover what the Neighborhood Watch Program is and how to start one. The goal of any neighborhood watch group is to increase safety by reducing the opportunity for crime in the area. Neighborhood by neighborhood, we can build better communities.

What is the Neighborhood Watch Program?

The concept of a neighborhood watch started in the United States 1960s after the rape and murder of a woman in New York. Witnesses did nothing to help or report the suspect and there was public outrage. Law enforcement nationwide encouraged people to do their part in keeping their eyes open and reporting to authorities.

Many citizens groups emerged, then the National Sheriffs’ Association made it official. In 1972 it began National Neighborhood Watch with the goal to connect residents with police–helping citizens offering information to police, who could then act on it. In the 1980s the National Neighborhood Watch Institute began offering materials like signs, decals, and pamphlets to educate and inform.

In a nutshell, the Neighborhood Watch Program connects neighbors with each other, and connects them with local police, where together they can proactively make their communities better.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

People naturally want to help each other. But sometimes we need a reason. A Neighborhood Watch Program is a great reason to get to know your neighbors better and work together towards a common goal.

Most people you talk to in your neighborhood will agree that they want a safer community. Some will be open to keeping an eye out for suspicious behavior and communicating with other neighbors. Others will be willing to take it a step further by attending meetings and building relationships with local police.

Building Relationships with Local Law Enforcement

An important component of a Neighborhood Watch is connecting with local law enforcement. Getting to know each other face to face, plus making sure you’re all on the same page, gives everyone a framework for moving forward. Police can talk about what to report and how to report, and the neighborhood group can work together and report criminal activity.

Working Together to Lower Opportunities for Crime

The end goal is the same for both residents and police: lower crime in your area. While we may not be able to control criminal behavior, neighbors and police who are committed to a safe community will be watching. As residents take a walk or drive around, they’ll be on the lookout for suspicious activity. They can then report to police, who can take the appropriate action. Together, they can lower the opportunity for crimes to occur.

Start a Neighborhood Watch Program in Your Area

The first thing you need to do is determine if there is already a Neighborhood Watch Program that includes your home-area. The best way to do this is to contact your local police department. Do a quick Google search of Your City + Police + Neighborhood Watch and you should be able to find the contact person who will know how to answer your questions. Otherwise, you can simply call your local police department and ask.

If you don’t have a Neighborhood Watch Program in your home-area, it’s time to start one. Here are the basic steps to getting started.

Talk to Several Neighbors

The first step is to talk to your neighbors. Start with those you already know. Tell them you’re interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch Program and explain what that entails. Gauge their interest. Would they be willing to be part of the core group that commits to going to meetings? If not, would they be supportive of the neighborhood watch group?

After you talk to the neighbors you already know, expand your search. Go door to door, and have others do likewise, post a flier at the neighborhood mailbox, etc., and talk to as many neighbors as possible. The more involvement, the better. If you are part of an HOA, be sure to contact the leadership and talk to them about your plans.

Contact Police

The next step is to contact your city police and tell them you’d like to start a Neighborhood Watch Program and that you’d like an officer to attend your first meeting. It might take a bit of time to get in touch with the right person, but keep at it until you are able to connect. Local police are busy but they are always happy when local residents want to take an active role in making their community safer.

Set Up a Neighborhood Meeting

Your first meeting will be an exciting opportunity for neighbors to meet together, along with a member of the local law enforcement (if they’re not able to make the first one, go ahead and hold it and invite them to a future meeting). Typically the meeting is held at your home or perhaps a community center if available.

At your meeting, get to know each other, then spend the bulk of the time talking about concerns and creating an action plan around the top concerns. Also discuss the best ways to communicate as a group. Text? Social media? See below for more resources for different options. Discuss when you think you should hold your next meeting. There’s no right or wrong here–it’s all about what works best for your group.

Even though the topic of your meeting is about crime, try to make it a positive experience. Emphasize the fact that you live in a neighborhood with great people who care.

Report Crime in Your Neighborhood to Local Police

The final and ongoing part of a Neighborhood Watch is to carry out the plan by watching for suspicious activity, communicating with neighbors, and reporting crime or concerns to police. Make sure to let your neighbors know NOT to take matters into their own hands. That is the job of the police. Neighborhood Watch is meant to “watch” and report.

More Resources for a Neighborhood Watch

For those neighbors who want to support the Neighborhood Watch, it’s important to stay in contact regularly. There are lots of great options to make communicating easier.

Nextdoor App

Nextdoor is a social network app/website that connects neighbors virtually. Simply sign up on the platform using your address, and you’ll be added to the appropriate neighborhood. You’ll see messages from others in your immediate area about lost animals, recommendations for restaurants, and possibly even information about potential safety issues. It also has a Nextdoor Virtual Neighborhood Watch Guide which can be helpful for any Neighborhood Watch group.

Private Facebook Group

If you have people in your neighborhood who are already on Facebook, it might make sense to create a private group. That way, you can post messages and pictures if needed, and let the group know of any upcoming meetings or information from police.

Text Group

If you live in a smaller neighborhood or only have a few households to keep in contact with, it might be a good idea to keep in contact via text. When you’re at your meeting, do a quick test text to make sure everyone gets it and can input the names of the neighbors into their contact list. Doing this also allows neighbors the ability to contact each other one-on-one if needed.

Periodic Meetings

After your first meeting, it’s up to your group as to how to proceed. You could hold a meeting once a quarter, or twice a year, or even just as needed. Especially if you stay in contact via technology, an in-person meeting may not be essential. Perhaps instead of a formal meeting, a block party could be a great way to continue building relationships with neighbors.

Order and Install Neighborhood Watch Signs

When you talk to your local law enforcement, ask them about Neighborhood Watch decals and signs. They may already have access to some and be able to get them installed for you. If not, you can order them here. Your HOA may be willing to pay for them, or you can ask for donations from neighbors.

Keeping Your Home Safe

Setting up a Neighborhood Watch Program is a great step in keeping your area safer. It really is a team effort to create a strong community. Hopefully all of your combined efforts will make a difference and reduce crime. At the same time, it’s important to always do what you can to keep your home as safe as possible.

Install a Home Security System

At Cove, we believe that everyone deserves to feel safe. That’s why our company focuses on the customer–making sure the product and monitoring is affordable so more people can benefit. Most home security systems consist of a variety of door sensors, window sensors, cameras, doorbell cameras, and more.

Not sure what you need? Click to take our quiz. It only takes a minute to get our recommendations, plus you can see what the equipment will cost. Professional monitoring costs less than $1/day and goes a long way in keeping your home protected. Our top-rated customer service team is ready to help any time you need it.