Neighborhood Watch Groups

• You can do something about crime in your neighborhood by participating in "Neighborhood Watch".
  
• Neighborhood watch programs belong to—and are run by—the people in the neighborhood, not the police.
  
• They have been proven to reduce neighborhood crime by as much as 60%, but are equally effective in neighborhoods with no or low crime rates.
  
• The police department helps train members in home security and reporting skills, and gives information about crime patterns in the neighborhood.
  
• The "Watch" group has a Coordinator and Block Captains who are responsible for organizing meetings and relaying information to members.
  
• Everyone is a Block Watcher who keeps an eye out for suspicious activity and calls police if need be.
  
• Effective Watches build a sense of community by having regular meetings which give neighbors a chance to know each other. Some even publish a newsletter with crime prevention and neighborhood highlights.

For more information about crime prevention call the Rockville City Police Department Community Services Officer 240-314-8922.