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The most important step you can take in securing personal safety is to become a part of a Neighborhood Watch organization
on your block. Being part of a neighborhood group will protect you, your loved ones and your interests in ways too numerous
to list here, but some of these include:
· Getting to know your neighbors and being able to identify who belongs on their property and conversely they will get to
know who belongs on your property
· Neighbors who know each other, can watch out for each other
· Neighbors can share information and observations with each other
· Neighbors will know when you are on vacation
· Neighbors will tell you what is going on down the street
· Neighbors can help you in case of an emergency
· As an active community group you will get more response from city leaders
· As an active community group you will be able to set community standards
· As an active community group you will be able to abate public nuisances
· As an active community group you will be able to abate drug houses
Residents of a community have a very specialized knowledge of their neighborhood that police can never achieve. A police officer
might not recognize someone in your yard as a stranger, but a neighbor would. That is the purpose of Neighborhood Watch.
Some people hesitate to call the police when they see something suspicious going on at a neighbor's house; they don't want
anyone to think they're being nosey. In Neighborhood Watch, everyone agrees that they want each other to be vigilant as far
as crime is concerned. If a neighbor has your phone number and calls you at work to check if a moving company is supposed
to be clearing your house, wouldn't you be thankful?
The old saying “There is safety in numbers” is still very true to this day. Predators, AKA “criminals”
will prey upon those who become separated from the “herd”: the weak, the old and those who have dropped their
guard or are momentarily distracted. Therefore, whether or not “prey” becomes a victim is often determined by
the presentation of opportunity – or even the perception of an opportunity. Reducing and preventing opportunities for
criminals to operate is key to reducing the risks to your personal safety.
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