NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH COMMITTEE

 

 

            A successful neighborhood watch program is one of citizen involvement where residents in cooperation with their local sheriff's department  directly participate in the detection , prevention and reporting of criminal activity.  Good communication is essential both among neighbors and with the police.

 

            Getting residents active seems to be our biggest problem.

 

            Several meeting were planned during 2004, however, none actually were had.  The primary reason seems to be one of participation.  A neighborhood watch cannot work without the community being involved.  The Association, by itself, can do little beyond making people aware of the need.  We cannot do it for you folks!  Perhaps better management is needed, and we solicit your involvement.  We need a real "take-charge" person to re-group and get things moving again.  The Sheriff's office is more than willing to meet with us and explain what is necessary.

 

            We believe that the concept of "watch captains" is needed.  This will require someone from each defined "neigborhood" being appointed as a captain and helping educate people on their street.  Any good watch program is nothing more than neighborhhods helping neighbors and neighbors in turn helping law enforcement.

 

            And, of course, it is no guarantee that crime will not occur within our neighborhoods --but, at lest we will have tried.

 

             Let's do something in 2005, and, in the meantime, the best advice we can pass along is that if you witness any type of crime in progress, or a suspicious activity call theFlorence County Police at 669-3911.   Most watch programs also recommend that we mark all valuables with an identifying number.

 

 

                                                                        FLHA – Board of Directors