HOW TO REDUCE CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

While we don't like to talk about it - or even think about it - 
crime is on the increase in America, and throughout the world.  
The number of burglars, muggers, auto thieves, robbers, purse 
snatchers, etc., is growing at an alarming rate.  Now you, as 
a resident, working with neighbors can help reduce the crime rate.

How?  By organizing and/or joining a neighborhood program in 
which you and your neighbors get together to learn how to 
protect yourselves, your family, your home and your property.  
Working together, you can get the criminals off your block 
and out of your area.

There's safety in numbers and power through working with a 
group.  You'll get to know your neighbors better, and working 
with them you can reduce crime, develop a more united 
community, provide an avenue of communications between 
police and citizens, establish on-going crime prevention 
techniques in your neighborhood, and renew citizen interest 
in community activity.

"Citizens Safety Projects" are set up to help you do this.  
It is a joint effort between private citizens and local 
police.  Such programs have been started all over the 
country.  Maybe one already exists in your community.

These organizations don't require frequent meetings 
(once a month or so).  They don't ask anyone to take 
personal risks to prevent crime.  They leave the 
responsibility for catching criminals where it belongs - 
with the police.  This is NOT a "vigilante" group:

These groups gather citizens together to learn crime 
prevention from local authorities.  You cooperate with 
your neighbors to report suspicious activities in the 
neighborhood, to keep an eye on homes when the resident 
is away, and to keep everyone in the area mindful of 
the standard precautions for property and self that 
should always be taken.  Criminals avoid neighborhoods 
where such groups exist.  

Through cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, 
some of the things you will learn - and all free - are:

1.	What to do in an emergency.
2.	How to best identify a suspicious person.
3.	How to identify a vehicle being used in a suspected 
        criminal activity.
4.	Signs to watch out for before entering a house or 
        apartment that may be in the process of being burglarized.
5.	What to do in case of injury.
6.	What to do about suspicious people loitering on your street.
7.	How to identify stolen merchandise.
8.	How to recognize auto theft in progress.
9.	How to protect your house or apartment.
10.	How to recognize a burglary in progress.
11.	How to protect yourself and family - and much more.

It's easy to get your group started.  All you have to do is 
contact your neighbors and arrange a date, place and time for 
the first meeting.  Hold the meetings at your home or that 
of a neighbor.  Try to plan a time that is convenient to most 
of your neighbors - preferably in the evening.

Then call your local police department.  They will be happy 
to give your group informal lectures, free literature - and 
in many instances, window stickers and I.D. cards.  Remember, 
police officers can't be everywhere.  Your cooperation with 
them is for the benefit of you, your family, your neighbors 
and your neighborhood.