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What is a Community Watch?
Community Watch, Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch, Town Watch, Crime Watch -
whatever the name, its one of the most effective and least costly ways to
prevent crime and reduce fear. A community watch fights the isolation that
crime both creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents,
helps reduce burglaries and robberies and improves relations between police
and the communities they serve.
The ABC's of Community Watch
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Any
community resident can join - young and old, single and married, renter
and home owner.
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A
few concerned residents, or a community organization, can spearhead the
effort to organize a Watch.
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Members learn how to make their homes more secure, watch out for each
other and the neighborhood and report activities that raise their
suspicions to the police.
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You
can form a watch group around any geographical unit: a block, apartment
community, park, business area, public housing complex or office.
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Watch groups are not vigilantes. They are the extra eyes and ears for
reporting crime and helping neighbors. Community Watch helps build
pride and serves as a springboard for efforts that address community
concerns such as recreation for youth, child care and affordable
housing.
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