Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch is…                                      Neighborhood WATCH FRONT YARD

  • Becoming acquainted with your neighbors. 
  • Working together to solve neighborhood concerns.
  • Helping the police by raising awareness and reporting any unusual activities as they occur. (You know best what “normal” activity in your neighborhood is.)
  • Learning to minimize potential risks by making safe choices (i.e. utilizing locks, lighting, etc.) to prevent crime in your neighborhood.
  • Reporting suspicious persons.
  • Looking out for your neighbors.

Responsibilities for Neighborhood Watch Captain and Co-Captains

  • Serve as a liaison between your active Neighborhood Watch members and law enforcement.
  • Recruit new Neighborhood Watch members to reach 100 percent participation in your neighborhood.
  • Maintain the Member List.
  • Distribute Neighborhood Watch materials and information to members in a timely manner.
  • Notify members of Neighborhood Watch meetings, meetings should be held at a minimum twice annually, usually in the form of a community event or outing.
  • Encourage members to call the non-emergency line at 956-361-3880 or 9-1-1 prior to contacting you to report unusual or suspicious activities.
  • Captains and Co-Captains can keep an activity log or have members post on the Nextdoor or other community websites / applications.

Participant Responsibilities:

  • Attend meetings and get acquainted with neighbors.
  • Keep your Member List in an easily accessible location.
  • Make your home as burglar-resistant as possible.

Daily Tips:

  • Be observant. Report suspicious activities to the San Benito Police Department via our non-emergency line at 956-361-3880 or through 9-1-1 if it is an emergency and to your Neighborhood Watch Captain.
  • Educate children about crime prevention. Stress the importance of 911 and helping law enforcement.
  • Do not confront suspicious individuals. Call 9-1-1.

Tools:

Member List

  • Provides immediate contact information in the event of suspicious activities, crime trends and information sharing products with the police department.

Neighborhood Watch Signs

  • Warns potential thieves of law enforcement partnership with residents.
  • Placed at entrances and inside the neighborhood.
  • Please call the police department investigative division on how to obtain a sign / signs.

Information and Safety Suggestions:

How to organize a Neighborhood Watch

  • You can take an active role in your community by forming a Neighborhood Watch.
  • You and your neighbors can stay safe by looking out for one another.
  1. Step 1: Contact your neighbors to see if they are interested in participating.
  2. Step 2: Contact the San Benito Police Department for additional information                                                                                                                                                             Neighborhood Watch Sign IMAGE