Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program combining the efforts of residents and local law enforcement.
Representatives of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have met with residents regarding Neighborhood Watch in nearly every county residential area.

Crime prevention starts at home.  Neighborhood Watch is about prevention, detection, and reporting of crimes and suspicious activity.  It is based on neighbors watching each other’s property and reporting anything or anyone who appears suspicious.  It opens the lines of communication between residents and the Sheriff’s Department.
 
Neighborhood Watch is a proactive crime prevention approach as opposed to reacting to crimes being committed.  Members are reminded that they, more than anyone else in their area, knows their neighbors, what they drive, who has children, what the normal routines are and who may be a stranger in the neighborhood.

When the Sheriff’s Department receives a request for an introduction to Neighborhood Watch, a meeting is arranged at one the homes of the participants.  The meetings typically last for one to two hours. At the meetings, a Sheriff’s Department representative explains the theory and the benefits of Neighborhood Watch with an informal presentation. 

Printed material about the Neighborhood Watch program is distributed.  Also, a complimentary street sign depicting the Neighborhood Watch logo is presented to the group for posting in the residential area.  Information packets guide residents on how to secure and protect their property, watch their neighbor’s property and how to report suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Department.

There are identification forms to complete for convenient documentation of valuables, i.e. serial numbers of guns, camera, appliances, etc.  Program participants are encouraged to photograph jewelry and other items of value that may not have identification numbers.  Residents are given telephone numbers and a contact person with the Sheriff’s Department to provide assistance.

For information about the Neighborhood Watch program, call Sgt. Tom Mezzetta at   775-782-9931.