Neighborhood Watch will be as effective as you and your neighbors choose to make it. If you apply some effort into maintaining one, your Neighborhood Watch can be an effective deterrent to criminal activity in your area. The Neighborhood Watch signs that should be purchased and posted throughout your neighborhood will also act as a deterrent. These signs will mean a lot if your group stays active and involved! Along with the signs the Sacramento Police Department will provide, free of cost, Neighborhood Watch window decals and a Participants Handbook for each household.

The family data sheets (see pg. 24 of the NNWI Participants Handbook) should list everyone’s name, address, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and other important information about the neighbors. These lists MUST be kept confidential. Only the Neighborhood watch participants should have the information. Remember, you are building this group on trust and caring, and should have each other’s welfare in mind.

Something to keep in mind is…every day we write checks to total strangers and give them access to our personal lives. We are giving them our drivers license number, address, phone number, ect. And yet, we know nothing about these people – who they are, what they can do with this information, ect. So if your neighbors are hesitant to give you their phone number/car license plate/work number to someone they “know”…..at least be willing to give the information to the block captain so they can be contacted in an emergency.

• Learn your neighbor’s names and contact numbers (cell, work, home). Be able to recognize them and their vehicles without any hesitation.
• Attend all the Neighborhood Watch meetings.
• Keep a copy of all your Neighborhood Watch information in an easily accessible, secure place and continually update it with an new information provided by your Block Captain.
• Properly identify all property using the Operation ID guidelines. (see pg. 28 of the NNWI Participants Handbook)
• Implement all security measures suggested by your local police department.
• Learn the techniques of getting an accurate description of a suspect or a vehicle. Practice describing people and vehicles.
• Keep an eye on your neighbor’s homes and report any suspicious activities to the police department.
• Post neighborhood watch window stickers and signs.
• When you plan to leave for any length of time, arrange to have your mail and newspapers picked up. Do not put a hold on your mail or newspaper…that only lets people know you will be gone for a certain time period! Timers should be activated for your lights.
• If you are leaving home for an extended period of time, notify your neighbors and the block captain you are going away so added attention can be placed on your home.
• Get Involved! Look out for each other! Be a good witness with written notes. Participate in your neighborhood Watch Program and neighborhood association.

By participating in this program, you help the police help you recover any items that may be taken in a burglary; but more so, you may be preventing a burglary.

Use your California Driver’s License Number or California ID Card Number as the number. DO NOT USE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER!! Law enforcement agencies do not have access to the information of the Federal Social Security Administration. Engrave the number on your property and then either DL or ID at the end. You can borrow an engraver from almost any city library. This is a great way to encompass all participants marking as one can “borrow” and the rest can use during the week! Or, if you are so inclined, you can purchase one. While you are marking the items, fill out pg. 28 of your participants handbook. Then keep it in a secure place (safe, safety deposit box, ect.). Please do not send this to the police department.

Please help the Sacramento Police Department by joining together and forming a Neighborhood Watch. Your eyes and ears will help the police in their everyday fight against crime!

To set up a Neighborhood Watch group in your area please contact a Crime Prevention Specialist with the Sacramento Police Department.