Neighborhood alert is an effective tool to reduce crime by bringing residents together to monitor their communities. This is an ongoing effort where neighbors report suspicious activity to local police. It can include anyone loitering, entering or leaving homes or businesses after hours, breaking glass and loud screams.
To be effective, neighborhood watch volunteers should understand the normal activities that happen in their area so they can recognize and report strangers who are out of place. This will also help neighbors build connections with one another and create a sense of community. Those who participate in the program should attend safety presentations offered by Tulsa police to learn more about preventing fraud, protecting yourself online, safe pet ownership and much more.
Tulsa police officers will also provide neighborhood watch presentations to groups, schools and other organizations upon request. Requests can be made on the City’s website or through a neighbor’s group page on social media websites like Nextdoor, Ring, Facebook and more.
The Trayvon Martin shooting has focused new attention on neighborhood watch programs. A lot of neighborhoods have them, but what they can and can’t do has come under scrutiny. We’ll talk to Neal Conan about that.
The National Neighborhood Watch program stresses that watch members should only observe and report suspicious activity. They should never take action on their own, and they should only be able to rely on trained law enforcement. The Tulsa Police Department has resources to support neighborhood watch groups, including the use of a secure communication system that allows for discreet 2-way communication.