Skip to content
A Checklist For Starting a Neighborhood Watch Program
Some of this summarized content comes from here: https://www.ncpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chklist.pdf
You Will Need
✅ A person or group of people committed to starting a Neighborhood Watch.
✅ A list of what issues initially need to be addressed in your community.
✅ A means of communicating with the residents, Patrolio, e-mail, fliers, telephone trees.
✅ A crime prevention officer to discuss the crime issues in the neighborhood and to help train members.
✅ A sign-up sheet or technology platform such as Patrolio for those interested in becoming block or building captains.
✅ Neighborhood Watch signs to be posted around the community. Some jurisdictions require a minimum number of participants before Neighborhood Watch signs can be posted.
✅ Facts about crime in your neighborhood. Google your city and "crime statistics". Most US cities have an online crime mapping tool.Build Partnerships
✅ The police or sheriffs’ office’s endorsement is critical to a Watch group’s credibility. These agencies are the major sources of information on local crime patterns, crime prevention education, and crime reporting.
✅ Local businesses and organizations can help provide fliers and a newsletter, offer meeting places, and distribute crime prevention information. Ask an electronics store to donate cellular phones.
More about Patrolio
This happened to me: 3am camera alarm goes off. I run downstairs with no phone, no weapon, no pepper spray in my underwear. Adrenaline pumping. I was totally caught off guard and unprepared for the drunk man actively trying to get in my house. It changed my perspective about how to be prepared.
Cameras by themselves are not enough! They are just a sensor that detects something. We recommend creating your own response plan, which may include a weapon, your phone, and your spouse/partner. We highly recommend doing a drill just like the fire drills you do at work to test your response and even your family’s response.
We also recommend choosing a remote guarding service that can respond for you so you are not on your own. A service like Patrolio can directly receive the motion alert and actively scare away the trespasser using the siren or two-way audio on the camera. These services are brand new to homes but have been around for businesses for awhile. Check it out at www.patrolio.com
4 comments
Thanks John — well definitely the crime and safety updates are there in Patrolio. On the for sale items I recommend OfferUp or Craigslist!
Like to have messages when things are for sale and crime happens in my area.
Hi there — that is a perfect idea. First download the checklist on this page. Next step would be to signup for Patrolio (click JOIN NOW at the top), and third step would be to INVITE your neighbors directly or alternatively you can host a small neighborhood get together and get people to Join your Patrolio block there. Thanks for the comment!
Hi I would be interested in the Block Watch Captain position since where I live is dark at night and I have valuable therapy pets in my apt. How can I get started?