Neighborhood Watch
Included on this page:
Neighborhood Watch Program
Introduction
Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention concept that calls for citizens to watch out for their neighbors' property. Knowing this, criminals are generally unwilling to risk detection, so they either don't commit the crime or go elsewhere. The Neighborhood Watch Program serves as a network through which the Police Department can collect and disseminate information on crime. It has been proven that in neighborhoods where citizens have joined together to look out for each other's safety, the incidence of burglaries and other crimes against property has been significantly reduced.
Neighborhood Watch is designed to prevent, detect, and report crimes. Enforcement action is always left to the Police Department.
Neighborhood Watch signs alert criminals that residents are concerned about crime and will call the police when suspicious activity is observed. However, signs alone are of little deterrent value when not backed up by an actively patrolling Neighborhood Watch Program. The establishment of a Neighborhood Watch Program in a low-crime area is added assurance it will remain safe. Crime is rarely stationary and often moves from one neighborhood to another.
Citizen Patrol: The purpose of community patrol is to use highly visible citizen observers to deter crime. Patrol members report crimes and suspicious situations to the police. Join with your neighbors in volunteering your eyes and your ears on a regular basis to watch your neighborhood and report anything suspicious to the Fairfax County Police Department. Thieves and vandals are likely to go elsewhere when they know Neighborhood Watch is "all eyes" for them!
Patrol Procedures
- The purpose of community patrol is to observe and report. Patrol members shall not become involved with a suspect.
- Patrol members do no possess police powers.
- Patrol members shall not challenge anyone. The patrol's visible presence should be a deterrent to most criminal activity. If a suspicious situation is found, the patrol should call the police.
- Patrol members shall not pursue vehicles or suspects nor attempt to enforce traffic laws.
- Patrol members should attempt to patrol in a random fashion rather than in an observable pattern. The patrol should include two loops through Sleepy Hollow, either one continuous loop or with a break.
- Patrol members are prohibited from carrying firearms, nightsticks, mace or any type of weapon.
- Patrol members should take notes on suspicious situations. A copy should be given to the Watch Coordinator.
Calling the Police
Call 911 for crimes actually in progress and events which are life-threatening or immediately damaging to property.
Call 703-691-2131 (non-emergency) to report crimes which have already occurred and when the perpetrator is no longer in the area or to advise police of suspicious activity.
Suspicious Activity Reporting Guidelines
Why Should You Call The Police?
You risk nothing if you call the police and you are wrong. Consider what you risk if you fail to call the police and you are wrong.
Successful efforts to combat crime require the cooperative involvement of police and citizens. The police cannot be everywhere. For this reason, success against crime is dependent on citizen cooperation and involvement. Many crimes would not be committed if more citizens were alert to suspicious activity and notified the police.
When You Should Call The Police?
Whenever you observe suspicious events, even though you may not be the only person observing them, call the police. Never think the next person will do what you should. The police would rather get numerous calls on the same event than none at all.
Often citizens fail to call because they are not sure if what they see is suspicious. If you are in doubt, call the police immediately. Don't wait to talk it over with friends or neighbors. Valuable police response time is lost this way.
Don't be concerned about bothering the police because you won't. Don't dwell on your possible embarrassment if your call should prove to be unfounded. Think instead of what could have happened had you not called. You or your loved ones could become the victims of a criminal act.
How Do You Call The Police?
Use the police, fire and rescue emergency number 911 for crimes in progress and events which are life-threatening or immediately damaging to property. Call the non-emergency number 703-691-2131 to report crimes which already occurred and when the suspect is no longer in the area or to advise police of suspicious activity.
What Information The Police Need?
You will be asked for your name, address, and phone number. This information is requested in case additional contact with you is necessary, but you do not have to provide this information if you do not want to. Any information provided to the police department is kept in confidence. If you do not want personal contact with the responding officer, say so.
The most important information needed by the police is:
- What happened
- When
- Where
- If anyone is hurt
- License numbers and vehicle descriptions
- Direction of travel
- Description(s) of suspect(s)
- If there are weapons involved
By acting quickly and calmly, your request for police service could foil a crime, help to identify suspects involved in other crimes or deter a criminal act by letting potential suspects know that you and your neighbors are alert to suspicious activity, suspicious vehicles, and suspicious persons.
Do's and Don'ts to Prevent Home Burglaries
- DO make your home look like you're there. Lights turned off and on by timers give your home a "lived-in look" when you're away.
- DO have good locks. A high quality, one-inch deadbolt lock on every outside door is a basic requirement.
- DO plug a radio into a timer set to go on when you're away. Set the radio to an all-talk station, leave the volume low, and give a would-be burglar the impression you're talking to someone. Light and noise are burglars' worst enemies.
- DO stop mail delivery and newspaper delivery when you're away.
- DO have a free home security inspection and be an active participant in Neighborhood Watch. Remember: A thief wants to take the path of least resistance. Your participation in Neighborhood Watch provides the most resistance.
- DON'T leave your home unlocked, even for a brief trip to the store or a visit to the neighbor across the street. Many homes have been burglarized in just such short periods of time.
- DON'T hide a key outside your home. Leave the extra key with a trusted neighbor or friend.
- DON'T put a name or address tag on your house or car keys. That's an open invitation to an unwelcome visitor should you ever lose your keys.
Citizens' Advisory Committee
In 1979 the Fairfax County Police Department established a program to enhance its ability to communicate with and better serve the community. This program took the form of advisory groups, known as Citizens' Advisory Committees, comprised of citizens representing a cross-section of the various neighborhoods of Fairfax County. The Mason District Station has its own Citizens' Advisory Committee that works hand-in-hand with the police on issues confronting the district. The specific purposes of these monthly meetings are to:
- Provide a forum for obtaining citizen input about the delivery of police services.
- Provide information regarding police department's programs and services.
- Provide a formalized process that will facilitate citizen and community cooperation with the police.
- Identify specific and potential problem areas concerning police services.
The Citizens' Advisory Committee meets on the second Tuesday of every month (except August) at 7:30 p.m. at the Mason Governmental Center which is located at 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale. All citizens of Mason District are invited to attend.