Patrolman Gary Carver and Detective Tim Lively will be more than happy to help you organize a Neighborhood Crime Watch Program.  Patrolman Carver has received training through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and has many years of experience.  

Neighborhood Watch – FAQ’s

What is a Neighborhood Watch?
A Neighborhood Watch is an organized effort by concerned citizens to prevent crime and improve the quality of life in their neighborhood.  In cooperation with the police department, neighbors work to safeguard each other’s homes and reduce the risk of crime in their community.

How is a Neighborhood Watch organized?
A Neighborhood Watch generally consists of a Coordinator, Block Captains, and Watch members, but your Watch will be customized to meet the needs of your area.  The Coordinator serves as the liaison between your neighborhood and the police department.  The Coordinator also is responsible for sharing information with the Block Captains.  Block Captains communicate with the Watch members who live on their blocks.  Watch members are the “eyes and ears” of Neighborhood Watch.  The success of Neighborhood Watch depends on neighbors who are alert and who communicate with each other.

Neighborhood Watch Program Director
Watch Coordinator
Block Captains
Captain #1      Captain #2      Captain #3
Member            Member            Member
Member            Member            Member
Member            Member            Member
Member            Member            Member

What Does a Watch Coordinator Have to Do?
Initially the Watch Coordinator works with the Neighborhood Watch Program Director to plan a Start-Up Meeting.  After that meeting, the Watch Coordinator is responsible for creating and maintaining a Neighborhood Watch phone tree (a list of the names and telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of all participating members).  Coordinators should have a least one Neighborhood Watch meeting every year, although you are encouraged to have gatherings on a more regular basis.  (The Neighborhood Watch Program Director can help the Coordinator to plan the agenda for Watch meetings.)  The primary duty of the Watch Coordinator is to serve as a liaison between your neighbors and the police department.

What Do Block Captains Have to Do?
In conjunction with the Coordinator, Block Captains make up the “core team” that makes the Neighborhood Watch function.  Block Captains support the Coordinator by communicating with residents in their immediate area.  The number of Block Captains that a Watch has is determined by the size of the Watch.  Block Captains’ primary duties are to share information with Watch members and to assist the Coordinator with events and meetings.

What Do Watch Members Have to Do?
The fundamental purpose of Neighborhood Watch is to prevent crime by increasing members’ awareness.  Members are expected to pay attention to what goes on in their neighborhood, to recognize suspicious activity, and to report it to the police.  Additionally, members may work with Block Captains and the Coordinator to solve neighborhood problems or participate in organized events.

What Can We Expect from the Neighborhood Watch Program Director?
The Program Director’s role is to provide you with the information and tools that your neighborhood needs to successfully implement and maintain a strong Neighborhood Watch Program.  You can expect the Program Director to help you in the early stages of your Watch development by educating you about Neighborhood Watch, providing pamphlets and other materials that you can share with Watch members, and attending your initial meeting.  The Program Director is responsible for training Neighborhood Watch members to recognize and report suspicious activity and to actively prevent crime through proper home security measures.  Additionally, the Program Director can assist you with resolving crime or quality of life problems in your neighborhood.  Well organized neighborhoods make for a better community and we are committed to helping you and your neighbors organize an active and effective Neighborhood Watch! Please call on your Neighborhood Watch Program Director to support your efforts to make your neighborhood a safer and better place to live.

How will an Internet Site help us?
The ability to communicate within your community and the local law enforcement is a key component of securing a safe and enjoyable neighborhood.  The use of the Internet provides a medium for doing so in a timely and efficient manner.  Information is always available to everyone when they need it and the distribution of information is immediate. 

Who maintains the site?
All members, upon satisfying a secure login have the ability to submit information to the site.  Some features, such as removing information are the functionality of the site administrator(s) which have a separate secure area for doing so.  This functionality does not require any special expertise.  Additionally, your contact within the local law enforcement agency has administration capabilities.

Are there any fees?
The Neighborhood Watch and Crime Stopper Wanted/Alert is a FREE service within your community.  There are no fees for using this service.  There are however, optional features such as an automated Voice Message Distribution that do have transaction fees associated to them.  Using this feature is optional.

We also offer an upgrade product which provides a complete Internet solution for Home Owners Associations.  This solution is only $99 per year and can be subsidized through an exclusive business sponsor in your community.  Please visit www.GetMyHOAsite.com for more information on this solution.

How do I get started?
You may register your Neighborhood from the Neighborhood Watch section on the home page of www.CrimeStoppersWanted.com or have your local police or sheriff’s department register for you through their Crime Stoppers Wanted administration area.  When you register yourself you will be asked for contact information of your local law enforcement agency.  IF they are not a member of Crime Stoppers Wanted you may direct them to this site to sign up for this FREE service. 

If you have your law enforcement agency sign you up they will enter your contact information and you will be sent an e-mail with instructions on how to begin using your site.