Neighborhood Crime Watch Program

The purpose of this information is to tell you how the Neighborhood Watch Program works and how to organize and maintain a successful program. Neighborhood Watch promotes citizens involvement in discouraging and preventing residential and property crime.

The Program Uses Citizen Involvement to:

• secure their own homes and personal property
• report any suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Office
• Increase public awareness through education.

Since its creation, it has brought a dramatic drop in the local residential crime rate.

Neighborhood Crime Facts

• Burglary, auto theft, rape, child molestation, and arson are the most prevalent neighborhood crimes.
• Household burglary is one of the easiest crimes to commit and prevent, but one of the hardest to solve.
• Over one-half of Law-Enforcement’s time is spent on investigating burglaries.
• Most home burglars are young amateurs and looking for easy targets.
• Statistics show that a large number of household burglaries are by non-forced entry.
• A majority of household burglaries occur during daylight hours.
• Household burglary has a high potential for death and/or injury in cases where a burglar is surprised by the homeowner.
  Fort Bend County Criminal Statistics

Neighborhood watch operates to educate participants in the principles of:

• Deterrence
• Delay
• Detection

The Program depends on a communications network organized with four levels of participants:

• Residents
• Section Coordinators
• Block Captains
• Local Law-Enforcement Representative

Vigilante Actions are in No Way Condoned by the Neighborhood Watch Program.
No One is asked to take Personal Risks and/or be a Hero.

Organizing a Program

• Visit your neighbors and tell them you are interested in discouraging crime in the neighborhood. Ask for help toward this goal.
• Organize a neighborhood meeting, and contact the Fort Bend County Crime Prevention representative and address the group. The phone number is 281-238-1536.
• Elect Block Captains and Section Coordinators.
• Block Captains should prepare a watch map listing, which includes names, addresses, telephone numbers, and license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions, for each residence in their block.
• Fifty percent and/or participation are recommended!
• Each homeowner must schedule a home security inspection. (Passing the inspection will qualify the homeowner to receive up to a 20% reduction off their homeowners insurance).
• Section Coordinators must provide the Sheriff’s Office with the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all block captains.
• Each Group must provide funds for the Crime Watch Signs, stickers, and engravers.
  • Since awareness and involvement are the keys to a successful program, keeping interest high and continuing the groups Crime Prevention Education must be a primary focus of all participants.

Specific Duties

Block Captains/Section Coordinators:

• Schedule periodic group meetings and encourage each homeowner to attend.
• Coordinators are required to forward minutes of each crime watch meeting to the crime prevention deputy
• Act as a liaison between homeowners and the Sheriff’s Office.
• Invite your Crime Prevention Deputy to address the group on other crime prevention programs.
• Coordinate home security inspections and Operation Identification.
• Contact new neighbors about the program.
• Keep the watch map data current.

Residents (Homeowners):

• Attend the program meetings and read the newsletters.
• Secure your homes and personal property. Follow the recommendations from the security inspection and participate in Operation Identification.
• Be Alert to Suspicious Activity and Report it Immediately to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch.
  • Neighborhood Crime Watch is a proven crime reduction program, but like any self-help activity, its success depends upon YOU and YOUR NEIGHBOR!