Neighborhood Watch is one of the most effective crime prevention programs in the country, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer.

Focusing on organization, communication and education, Neighborhood Watch participants look out for one another - without being nosey or obtrusive. They are observant of unusual activity and report suspicious activity. Participants are never asked to act in lieu of the police or put themselves in dangerous situations.  FBI statistics show that a subdivision with an active Neighborhood Watch is 43% less likely to become a target of criminal activity.

Neighborhood Watch Resources:

Neighborhood Watch Brochure
Neighborhood Watch Manual
Home Security Checklist
Apartment Security Checklist


A Good Neighborhood Watch:

• Emphasizes techniques to reduce the risk of being a crime victim


• Teaches citizens to recognize suspicious activities and how to report them


• Teaches how to make homes more secure


• Allows for communication among neighborhoods and the police department, giving residents greater access to criminal activity information and one-on-one interaction with law enforcement officers


• Encourages neighbors to know one another


• Provides opportunity for neighbors to come together and address issues as a group

Getting Started

• Form a small planning committee
• Decide on a date and place for an initial neighborhood meeting
• Select a Captain and Co-Captain
• Establish a phone tree for effective communication
• Recruit as many neighbors as possible using brochures provided by your neighborhood officer
• Identify areas of concern in your neighborhood
• Consider linking with an existing organization, such as a homeowners association as they may provide an existing infrastructure to use
• Gather facts about crime in your neighborhood by checking police reports and learning residents' perceptions.  Often, opinions are not supported by facts and accurate information can reduce the fear of crime
• Contact the Redmond Police Department to help organize your meeting and discuss your neighborhood's problems and needs with the group

Neighborhood Watch Captains
(one volunteer suggested per 10-20 households)

• Schedule periodic neighborhood meetings and encourage residents to attend
• Attend quarterly captain's meeting hosted by RPD
• Act as a representative or liaison between your neighborhood and RPD Distribute any special information provided by RPD to the group, such as crime patterns in the area
• Keep updated list of names, addresses, phone numbers, children, and pets
• Greet new neighbors and inform them of the Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch Members

• Attend neighborhood group meetings
• Communicate concerns, ideas, and insights
• Secure homes and personal property
• Be aware of, and report, suspicious activity immediately
• Read and share appropriate crime information
• Practice recommended security and crime prevention measures
• Know neighbors and recognize vehicles
• Update neighborhood telephone numbers and keep contact information provided by your captain
• Stop newspaper and mail delivery when leaving for an extended length of time; notify trusted neighbors

Police Department

• Explain concept of Neighborhood Watch to community
• Attend initial meeting with neighbors to assist in problem solving
• Provide basic start-up training and consulting
• Maintain records of active Neighborhood Watch groups
• Attend neighborhood meetings as requested
• Follow up on neighborhood concerns
• Coordinate the placement of Neighborhood Watch signs
• Provide information, trends, and states to neighborhoods
• Organize quarterly captain meetings

For more information and material on how to begin a Neighborhood Watch program, contact Redmond Police at 425-556-2545.