Why should you be involved in a Neighbourhood Watch?
- Mar 3, 2018
- 3 min read
Why?
Because studies show that seven out of ten South Africans don't even know who their neighbours are. Because criminals find it easier to operate in neighbourhoods where people don't know each other, where the residents pay little attention to what's going on around them, where a thief or burglar won't have to worry about someone calling the police to report their activities.
You should be involved because working with neighbours to look out for each other is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent crime in your neighbourhood.
Awareness
A Neighbourhood Watch asks you to be more aware of what's happening around you. Because you spend much more time in your neighbourhood than a patrol officer ever could, you can play an important role in preventing crime just by keeping your eyes and ears open for anything suspicious, watching out for those things when the police can't be there.
What would you do if you saw a strange man climbing in your neighbour’s window? Wheeling a bicycle out of their garage? Stealing valuables out of a parked car? Dealing drugs to passing school kids around the corner? By staying alert and promptly reporting these sorts of activities, you could help prevent such crimes and make your neighbourhood a safer place to live.
Information
A Neighbourhood Watch is about sharing information. For instance, the police ask that you share information with them by calling when you see criminal or suspicious activities in your neighbourhood. It's also a good idea for neighbours to keep each other informed about vacations or business trips so you can watch out for each other's homes while you're away.
In return, police share information with you about what types of criminal activity are being reported in your area. You will be able to report information quickly so the police can respond more effectively. You can also learn about some proven crime prevention techniques that can help protect your property from theft, burglary and other crimes.
Organization
When you join a Neighbourhood Watch, you won't be asked to pay fees, purchase materials or attend lots of meetings. It’s simply a matter of watching out for your neighbourhood and calling the Control Room whenever you see something suspicious. The more people who can participate, the more effective the Neighbourhood Watch group is likely to be.
A Neighbourhood Watch is not a vigilante program. It doesn't give people the authority to act like police officers, take risks or try to be heroes. And it's not an excuse to poke noses in other people's business. It is an obligation to look out for each other as neighbours and to inform the police whenever something is going on that seems to require the help or intervention of the police or law enforcement.
There are many Neighbourhood Watch Groups located in various areas in the Helderberg. Some of these groups are in quiet neighbourhoods where nothing much ever happens. A Neighbourhood Watch is one way to keep it that way.
Other Neighbourhood Watch groups were formed because of chronic problems with criminal or anti-social behaviour. Residents sometimes are faced with the choice of doing nothing and letting things get worse, or working together to try to make things better. In such cases, people can take part in their Neighbourhood Watch program as an organizing tool to make their neighbourhood a better place to live.
So a Neighbourhood Watch isn't really a "police program" at all. It's a neighbourhood program that asks ordinary people to do simple things to improve the security of their neighbourhood. It doesn't come with any big promises or guarantees, but it does provide a way to prevent crime if neighbours will simply agree to help each other.
If this sounds like something you'd like to join in your neighbourhood, you should call your local Neighbourhood Watch for more information about how to become a member.
The more neighbours that can take part, the larger the impact on crime will be in your area.
Here are some Neighbourhood Watch Numbers in the Helderberg:
Somerset West – 021 840 0009
Strand – 081 570 3540
Gordon’s Bay – 082 754 6326
Source: Helderberg Against Crime
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