The Pleasanton Police Department has registered Neighborhood Watch groups in the city - are you involved?

A Neighborhood Watch group is an effective way to keep crime out of our neighborhoods. Neighborhood Watch relies on the best crime fighting tool ever invented - GOOD NEIGHBORS.

Neighborhood Watch is only a beginning. Neighborhood Watch can be the basis for ongoing dialogue and cooperative relationship with the police and other agencies.

What Is Neighborhood Watch?

Neighbors getting to know each other, taking time to care about each other and working together in a program of mutual assistance. Citizens are trained to recognize and report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods. Crime prevention strategies such as home security, Operation Identification, and other strategies that are implemented by citizens.

Why Neighborhood Watch?

There can't be an officer on every corner, so citizen involvement is essential. You and your neighbors are the only ones who really know what is going on in your neighborhood.  By cooperating with each other and the police, people can help fight crime in the community - before it begins.

Gathering and exchanging information about what is or has occurred in your neighborhood is important.

How Do I Start A Neighborhood Watch Program?

To form a group or join a Neighborhood Watch please contact the Crime Prevention Unit and speak with either: Officer Archie Chu at (925) 931-5233 or Community Service Officer Shannon Revel at (925) 931-5240.

If you would like to start a new Neighborhood Watch group, we will provide you with all the information needed to get started. Additionally, our staff will attend your first meetings to help explain the program, the processes involved, and the encourage involvement.

At your initial meeting we will provide information about crime conditions in your neighborhood, provide brochures on crime prevention and discuss way to be safe inside your home and outside.

Steps To Getting Started:

• Contact your neighbors, determine a good day and time to schedule a neighborhood meeting.
• Discuss crime problems in your area.
• Explain the value of Neighborhood Watch.
• Explain that Neighborhood Watch does not require frequent meetings.
• Explain that there are no personal risks.
• Police Department personell will attend your meetings and answer questions about crime in your area and provide information about deterring and preventing crime.

Further Information on Crime Prevention may be obtained at these sites:

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) On-Line Resource Center offers crime prevention tips for self, home, and family; community policing; neighborhood building; plus information on McGruff the Crime Dog and his nephew, Scruff.

Find out how you can Take A Bite Out Of Crime! California's Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP) formulates and implements statewide criminal justice policy through comprehensive planning and program funding.

The California's Attorney General's Crime and Violence Prevention Center (CVPC) focuses its attention on the following area: community-oriented policing and problem solving, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, family violence prevention, safe schools, neighborhood and personal safety, youth gang prevention, and violence prevention.