Neighborhood Watch focuses on informing the community how to discourage, deter and prevent crimes such as burglary, auto theft, car break-ins, and personal crimes which often occur in or near homes. Issues such as vandalism, graffiti, drug dealing and gang activity are also addressed when applicable.
The San Jose Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit has provided NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH presentations to neighborhood groups for nearly 25 years. Although crime trends have changed since the 1970's, the basic principle behind NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH remains the same; to bring communities together with the police to achieve the common goal of preventing crime.
How to arrange a meeting...
First, find someone on your block to be the event organizer and SJPD point of contact, this could be you.
Reach out to all of the neighbors on your block or in your complex, let them know that you are starting a neighborhood watch and you would like them to participate.
Start with immediate neighbors working away from your house. Neighborhood watch is intended for residents who can see other neighbors front doors; ideally every street and/or complex will have its own neighborhood watch group who will all work together to look over the whole neighborhood.
You must have 10 people in order to set up a Neighborhood Watch program.
Figure out a few dates and times in the next month that will work for most peoples schedules
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meetings are held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings AT 7:00 P.M. and last approximately 2 hours. At least TEN homes must be represented in order for the meeting to take place. Most meetings are held in your home or a complex community room.
Reach out to Crime Prevention and schedule the meeting
You can call Crime Prevention at (408) 277-4133. The Crime Prevention Specialist who represents the area of San Jose in which you live will work with you to schedule the meeting date (usually at least four to six weeks notice is required). Invitation notices will be sent to you to distribute to your neighbors.
What happens at the meeeting?
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is an opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives of your police department to discuss and work to solve problems in your community, or to keep the problems from starting in the first place!
Through this positive, pro-active program, you will learn facts about:
Police districts and beats
Duties of beat officers
Crime trends in your area
How to react to suspicious or criminal activity
How San Jose's 9-1-1 system works
Recommended security measures such as...
Types of locks
Lighting
Alarms
Operation Identification
and MUCH more!
Only residents attending the meeting will be entitled to receive a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH window sign and other materials distributed at the meeting.
If 80%-100% of the homes on your block are represented at the meeting, metal NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH signs will be installed on the streetlight poles on your block.