Neighborhood Crime Watch:
The purpose of this information is to tell you how the Neighborhood Watch Program works and how to organize and maintain a successful program. Neighborhood Watch promotes citizens involvement in discouraging and preventing residential and property crime.
The Program Uses Citizen Involvement to:
N secure their own homes and personal property
N report any suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Office
N Increase public awareness through education.
Neighborhood Crime Facts:
N Burglary, auto theft, rape, child molestation, and arson are the most prevalent crimes that occur in neighborhoods.
N Household burglary is one of the easiest crimes to commit and prevent, but one of the hardest to solve.
N Over one-half of Law-Enforcement’s time is spent on investigating burglaries.
N Most home burglars are young amateurs and looking for easy targets.
N Statistics show that a large number of household burglaries are by non-forced entry.
N A majority of household burglaries occur during daylight hours.
N Household burglary has a high potential for death and/or injury in cases where a burglar is surprised by the homeowner.
Neighborhood watch operates to educate participants in the principles of:
N Deterrence
N Delay
N Detection
The Program depends on a communications network organized with four levels of participants:
N The residents
N Section Coordinators
N Block Captains
N A local Law-Enforcement Representative
Vigilante Actions are in No Way Condoned by the Neighborhood Watch Program. No One is asked to take Personal Risks and/or be a Hero.
Organizing a Program:
N Visit your neighbors and tell them you are interested in discouraging crime in the neighborhood. Ask for help toward this goal.
N Organize a neighborhood meeting, and contact the Fort Bend County Crime Prevention representative and address the group. The phone number is 281-238-1536.
N Elect Block Captains and Section Coordinators.
N Block Captains should prepare a watch map listing, which includes names, addresses, telephone numbers, and license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions, for each residence in their block.
N Fifty percent participation is recommended!
N Each homeowner must schedule a home security inspection. (Passing the inspection will qualify the homeowner to receive up to a 20% reduction off their homeowners insurance).
N Section Coordinators must provide the Sheriff’s Office with the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all block captains.
N Each Group must provide funds for the Crime Watch Signs, stickers, and engravers.
[ Since awareness and involvement are the keys to a successful program, keeping interest high and continuing the groups Crime Prevention Education must be a primary focus of all participants.
Specific Duties Include:
Block Captains/Section Coordinators:
N Schedule periodic group meetings and encourage each homeowner to attend.
N Coordinators are required to forward minutes of each crime watch meeting to the crime prevention deputy
N Act as a liaison between homeowners and the Sheriff’s Office.
N Invite your Crime Prevention Deputy to address the group on other crime prevention programs.
N Coordinate home security inspections and Operation Identification.
N Contact new neighbors about the program.
N Keep the watch map data current.
Residents (Homeowners):
N Attend the program meetings and read the newsletters.
N Secure your homes and personal property. Follow the recommendations from the security inspection and participate in Operation Identification.
N Be Alert to Suspicious Activity and Report it Immediately to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch.
[ Neighborhood Crime Watch is a proven crime reduction program, but like any self-help activity, its success depends upon YOU and YOUR NEIGHBOR!
FortBend CountySheriff’s Office Phone Numbers:
911…………….. Emergency/Crimes in Progress/Sickness/Fire
281 342 6116….Non-Emergency Number
1 800 341 6116...Long Distance (800) Number
281 594 0801….Crime Prevention Unit (Deputy Gerard Argao)
281 341 4638 …Terriann Carlson (Crime Analysis).
(Coordinators should be the ones to use Crime Analysis)!
