What is Neighborhood Watch?
Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program enlisting the active participation of residents in cooperation with the Police Department to reduce the incidence and fear of crime in their communities. It involves neighbors getting to know each other to develop a program of mutual assistance. It involves neighbors being educated in crime reporting and suspect identification techniques. Finally, it involves neighbors using crime prevention strategies as tools to reduce crime in their communities.
PVE Neighborhood Watch is a non-profit (501c3) organization founded in1983 and partners with our PVE Police Department.
Why Neighborhood Watch?
The community has the primary responsibility for fighting crime. The most effective approach to fighting crime is a proactive one, i.e., stopping it before it occurs. This can happen when neighbors cooperate with each other to assist the Police Department. Neighborhood Watch members place stickers in their windows and post Neighborhood Watch signs on streets, warning criminals they are in an active Neighborhood Watch community, and that "neighbors are watching out for each other."
Remember, you and your neighbors are the ones who really know what is going on in your community. Resident involvement is essential to combat crime.
How do I Schedule a Neighborhood Watch Meeting on my Block?
Your PVE Neighborhood Watch Area Coordinator will assist in getting Block Meetings started in your neighborhood. A PVE PD representative will be available for your first meeting to discuss crime concerns specific to your neighborhood. Contact your Area Coordinator or email [email protected]
Reporting a Crime
Eyewitness information is the key to solving many crimes. Your call to the PVE PD when you see suspicious behavior gives them a reason to go and check.
Call the PVE PD non-emergency number: 310.378.4211 or if its a life-threatening emergency, dial 911
The following tips will assist you when reporting crime to the Police Department. Call immediately. Do not attempt to stop or detain the suspect(s) yourself. You may be asked the following when reporting a crime:
Things To Watch Out For:
Strangers and solicitors.
Verify the employment of all solicitors, meter readers and repair personnel prior to allowing them entry into your home. This can be done by obtaining the employer’s number from the telephone book or by contacting directory assistance. Never take a telephone number offered by a suspicious person. Be suspicious of alleged delivery personnel with a wrong address or asking if someone lives there.
Someone carrying property.
If it’s at an unusual hour, unusual place, or if the property is not wrapped as if just purchased.
Someone going door-to-door in your neighborhood.
Watch for awhile. If after a few houses are visited, one or more persons tries a door to see if it is locked, looks into windows, or goes into a back or side yard, it could be a burglar. Call the Police Department immediately; don’t wait for the person to leave.
Traffic to and from a certain residence.
It is not suspicious unless it occurs on a daily basis or very regular basis, especially during late or unusual hours.
Any vehicle moving slowly and without lights, or following a course that appears aimless or repetitive in any location.
Particularly in areas of schools, parks and playgrounds. Occupants may be looking for places to rob or burglarize, or they could be drug pushers or sex offenders.
Parked vehicles containing one or more persons.
If it is an unusual hour they could be lookouts for a burglary in progress.
An abandoned vehicle parked on your block.
May be a stolen vehicle.
Continuous repair operations at non-business locations.
It could mean stolen property is being stripped, repainted, or otherwise altered.
Persons making a quick change of vehicles.
May be attempting to elude the police or abandoning a stolen vehicle.
One or more individuals, including juveniles walking through the neighborhood looking into automobiles or backyards.
Any person taking a shortcut through a backyard.
PVE Neighborhood Watch is a non-profit (501c3) organization founded in1983 and partners with our PVE Police Department.
Why Neighborhood Watch?
The community has the primary responsibility for fighting crime. The most effective approach to fighting crime is a proactive one, i.e., stopping it before it occurs. This can happen when neighbors cooperate with each other to assist the Police Department. Neighborhood Watch members place stickers in their windows and post Neighborhood Watch signs on streets, warning criminals they are in an active Neighborhood Watch community, and that "neighbors are watching out for each other."
Remember, you and your neighbors are the ones who really know what is going on in your community. Resident involvement is essential to combat crime.
How do I Schedule a Neighborhood Watch Meeting on my Block?
Your PVE Neighborhood Watch Area Coordinator will assist in getting Block Meetings started in your neighborhood. A PVE PD representative will be available for your first meeting to discuss crime concerns specific to your neighborhood. Contact your Area Coordinator or email [email protected]
Reporting a Crime
Eyewitness information is the key to solving many crimes. Your call to the PVE PD when you see suspicious behavior gives them a reason to go and check.
Call the PVE PD non-emergency number: 310.378.4211 or if its a life-threatening emergency, dial 911
The following tips will assist you when reporting crime to the Police Department. Call immediately. Do not attempt to stop or detain the suspect(s) yourself. You may be asked the following when reporting a crime:
- Who, What, When, and Where?
- How many suspects were there?
- Can you describe the suspect(s)?
- Can you describe their vehicle(s)?
- What was/were the license plate number(s)?
- What did they do?
- What did they say?
- What did they take?
- Which way did they go?
Things To Watch Out For:
Strangers and solicitors.
Verify the employment of all solicitors, meter readers and repair personnel prior to allowing them entry into your home. This can be done by obtaining the employer’s number from the telephone book or by contacting directory assistance. Never take a telephone number offered by a suspicious person. Be suspicious of alleged delivery personnel with a wrong address or asking if someone lives there.
Someone carrying property.
If it’s at an unusual hour, unusual place, or if the property is not wrapped as if just purchased.
Someone going door-to-door in your neighborhood.
Watch for awhile. If after a few houses are visited, one or more persons tries a door to see if it is locked, looks into windows, or goes into a back or side yard, it could be a burglar. Call the Police Department immediately; don’t wait for the person to leave.
Traffic to and from a certain residence.
It is not suspicious unless it occurs on a daily basis or very regular basis, especially during late or unusual hours.
Any vehicle moving slowly and without lights, or following a course that appears aimless or repetitive in any location.
Particularly in areas of schools, parks and playgrounds. Occupants may be looking for places to rob or burglarize, or they could be drug pushers or sex offenders.
Parked vehicles containing one or more persons.
If it is an unusual hour they could be lookouts for a burglary in progress.
An abandoned vehicle parked on your block.
May be a stolen vehicle.
Continuous repair operations at non-business locations.
It could mean stolen property is being stripped, repainted, or otherwise altered.
Persons making a quick change of vehicles.
May be attempting to elude the police or abandoning a stolen vehicle.
One or more individuals, including juveniles walking through the neighborhood looking into automobiles or backyards.
Any person taking a shortcut through a backyard.
If you see suspicious behavior, contact the PVE Police Department, (310) 378-4211.
Your call gives them a reason to check.
Your call gives them a reason to check.