NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH What is it? Neighbor Watch is a network of neighbors trained by crime prevention officers in home and self-protection, suspect identification and how to serve effectively as additional eyes and ears for law enforcement agencies in their communities. TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS Canvass your neighborhood. Discuss crime problems in your area. Briefly explain the value of Neighborhood Watch programs. Ask about convenient times to schedule your initial Neighborhood Watch meeting. BE SURE TO MENTION THAT: Neighborhood Watch work effectively at the block level because people can easily see, recognize, and cooperate. They can see and hear what activity is taking place across the street, next door, or at the property to the rear. They can most likely recognize persons or vehicles as belonging to or not belonging in the neighborhood. Hear It-See It-Report It Neighbors can let each other know when they will be away for the day, evening, weekend, or on vacation, and thereby establish a targeted watch during absence. For extended periods of absence, neighbors can take turns making sure there absent neighbor’s home does not gradually take on the signs of an unoccupied dwelling. The residents in a block know better than anyone else what is usual or unusual, normal or suspicious. Therefore, they are the most effective source to provide authorities with helpful information. HOW CAN WE HELP? CONTACT YOUR LAW ENFROCEMENT AGENCY Check first with your local law enforcement agency before starting any kind of community prevention program. They may be able to help organize your initial meeting. Neighborhood Watch does not require frequent meetings. It does not ask that anyone take any personal risk to prevent crime. Neighborhood Watch leaves the responsibility for apprehending criminals where it belongswith your law enforcement agency. GETTING STARTED The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Community Resource Officer and the organizing community member should initially meet to discuss starting a Neighborhood Watch. After the meeting, the community member should canvass the neighborhood for interest and participation from the neighbors with the information supplied by the Community Resource Officer. Utilize a map of all the streets and households to be covered by your Neighborhood Watch organizations. (Start with a manageable number of homes first, you can always add to the areas) Select a Chairperson and block captains. A chairperson will arrange for meetings and communicate with the block captain’s information received from the police. The chairperson also keeps an updated list on residents and maintains contact with police. The block Captain assists the chairperson in passing information to and from the residents on their block. The block captain also welcomes new neighbors and encourages joining Neighbor Watch. THE SECOND MEETING Neighbor Watch training for all neighbors (Presented by the Community Resource Officer)      How to report a crime? How to recognize suspicious activity Discuss programs offered through AMPS Explain phone chain and benefits it provides Stress to all members this is their neighborhood watch. The success of the program is their active participation/involvement. THE FIRST MEETING BE CONCERNED! Select a convenient time (far enough in advance to give everyone adequate notice) Distribute a flyer announcing the meeting Explain that you would like to start a Neighborhood Watch group and ask for assistance. Hold the meeting in the home of a neighbor or nearby facility Ask about the crime situation in your neighbourhood. Law Enforcement will explain the concept of the Neighbor Watch Program. No law enforcement agency can function effectively without the concerned assistance of responsible community members. We are depending on you to call and tell us whenever you observe suspicious persons or actions. Some people fail to call the police simply because they are not aware of what seemingly innocent activities might be suspicious. Call your local law enforcement agency immediately about all suspicious activity. INFORMATION NEEDED What Happen? When: Where? Anyone injured? Vehicle license number Vehicle description Direction of travel Description of persons (include clothing) When describing suspects, notice age, race, sex, height and weight. Compare your weight and height to the suspects. Pick out some unique characteristics which will help you identify the suspects in the future if need be.      WHAT IS SUSPICIOUS? Basically, anything that seems even slightly “out of place” for your area or during the time of day in which it occurs may mean criminal activity.  Some of the most obvious things to watch out for and report include:        A stranger entering your neighbor’s house when it is unoccupied. Offers of merchandise at ridiculously low priced could mean stolen property. Anyone looking into parked cars may be looking for a vehicle to steal or for valuables left displayed in the car. Persons entering or leaving a business place after hours could mean burglars. The sound of breaking glass or any other loud explosive noises could mean an accident, housebreaking or vandalizing. Person loitering around schools, parks, secluded areas or in the neighborhood could be a sex offender. Person around the neighborhood who do not live there could burglars, or some looking to purchase illicit substances. Not every stranger who comes into your neighborhood is a criminal. There are many legitimate repairmen, and servicemen moving around the community all the time. Criminals can take advantage of this by disguising themselves as repairmen, door-to-door salesmen, and servicemen. Anyone forcing entrance into or tampering with a residence, a business or vehicle is suspicious anytime, anywhere. A person running, especially if carrying something in values, could be leaving the scene of a crime. A person exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms may be injured, under the influence of drugs or alcohol or requires medical or assistance. Large amounts of traffic going to and from a residence is not suspicious unless it occurs on a daily basis, especially during late or unusual hours. Unusual noises such as gunshots, creaming, sounds of combat, abnormally barking dogs-anything suggestive of foul play, danger or illegal activity should be reported. VEHICLES?       Anything moving slowly and without lights, or follows a course that appears aimless is suspicious in any location, but particularly so in area of schools, parks and playgrounds. Parked, occupied vehicles containing one or more persons are especially significant if observed at an unusual hour. Vehicles being loaded with valuables are suspicious if parked in the front of a closed business or untended residence even if the vehicle is a legitimate looking commercial unit. More and more professional thieves are taking the time and trouble to customize their vehicles with special signs in order to move more freely without suspicion. Apparent business transactions conducted from a vehicle, could mean possible drug deals. Vehicles with out of state plates in your neighborhood, could be someone visiting but it could also be someone looking to commit a criminal offense. While some, if not all, of the suspicious described could have innocent explanations, the authorities would rather investigate a possible crime situation then be called after the fact. Akwesasne Mohawk Police 73 Sweetgrass Lane, Akwesasne, QC H0M 1A0 Phone: 613-575-2340 Emergency Number: 613-5752000 Website: www.akwesasnepolice.ca CRIME STOPPERS 613-575-2255 YOUR CALL COULD SAVE A LIFE, PREVENT AN INJURY OR STOP A CRIMINAL ACT.