Neighborhood Crime Watch Program
Organizes neighborhoods of single family homes, apartment complex, gated
communities throughout Miami-Dade County and its Municipalities. Educates
residents in crime prevention, homeland security, an natural disasters.
Learn about your local police department needs and establish a working
relationship. Create a phone chain to communicate with neighbors in times
of need.
It Can Happen in Your Neighborhood!
View a CBS4 news story on how easy it is for a burglar to come into your neighborhood and break into your home.
CBS4 gives you tips on starting a Neighborhood Watch Program
View this CBS4 article on Protecting Your Home Against Burglars
How to Start a Neighborhood Crime Watch
Please note that some municipalities have their own programs and criteria, in some cases because of manpower issues, but the following are the steps and criteria we use:
- When a resident calls our office, we take a request for service listing all their information and concerns so that we may then forward them to the appropriate law enforcement department.
- The meetings are held in the evenings during the week, normally at 7 p.m., a good time for most to be home from work.
- The meeting preferably is held in the neighborhood at someone's home. This way people can just walk to the location. This has been found across the country to be much more effective since the objective is to meet and get to know your neighbors. Now in some areas, this part may not be possible due to crime issues, so we try to find a safe location nearby for the meeting -- a church, a clubhouse or, in many cases, in the middle of the street. In apartment buildings, we sometimes have even held them in the parking lots.
- Once a meeting date has been established with the police officer and the resident hosting the meeting, a flier and brochure are provided to be distributed to all the neighbors. This is to inform everyone of the meeting; the brochure speaks to the implementation of Neighborhood Watch.
- The night of the meeting, the police officer and someone from my office attends. The officer provides information regarding crime trends, crime statistics, what his role is as a community officer, what his department is doing to assist the community and discusses alarm issues as well as how and when to call the police. That person teaches the residents what is needed when calling the police about a suspicious person or vehicle and answers questions that residents may have.
- Our coordinator explains how to set up a phone chain -- a collection of phone numbers, addresses and special needs or information pertinent to their homes. When the phone chain is completed, it is shared with all the neighbors participating in the crime watch.
This is the most crucial part of Neighborhood Watch because it's how everyone stays in touch. We also provide crime prevention training materials. Once the above is completed and the Neighborhood Watch is organized, we then provide Crime Watch signs, house stickers and T-shirts. All of this is free because we are funded by your tax dollars.
Implementing a Neighborhood Watch is not easy. It takes dedication and ''sweat equity,'' but, as the thousands that are already involved will say, "it's the best thing that can happen to a neighborhood.''
How to Start a Citizens' Crime Watch
- Inform neighbors how Citizens’ Crime Watch works through informational flyers provided by Citizens’ Crime Watch.
- Identify a Neighborhood Chairperson and organize the first meeting. At least 30% participation is required to organize your group.
- The meeting is conducted by a Citizens’ Crime Watch Coordinator and a Police Officer.
- After meeting, a Telephone Chain and assignment of Block Captains is set up by the Neighborhood Chairperson.
- Citizens’ Crime Watch signs are to be placed at key entrances to the Neighborhood once organized. There is no cost for signs.
- Once a group is organized, the Chair or a member may attend monthly meetings to report your activities and learn what other Crime Watch groups are doing. These meetings are held the 1st Wednesday of every month at 10:00 am at the Citizens’ Crime Watch main office.
Citizens' Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County, Inc. charges no fees for speakers, literature or other services.
