What is a Neighborhood Watch?

A neighborhood watch is a group of people living within the same area, same subdivision and/or same street, who want to make the area safer. It is the citizens and the police working together to reduce crime and improve the quality of life within the neighborhood.  

If you already have an active neighborhood watch, make sure to register with the Gilbert Police Department. It is important that this is a cooperative effort between Gilbert Police and the citizens.

If you need to register an already active block watch or, if you would like to start one, please fill out the following: Block Watch Form  

Benefits of Neighborhood Watch: 

There are several benefits to starting and participating in a Neighborhood Block Watch, some of those are:

• Reducing the risk of becoming a victim of a crime.
• Being better prepared to respond to suspicious activity
• Being informed on issues that impact your community
• Becoming acquainted with your neighbors
• Reduction in crime
• Improved communications between law enforcement and your community

How to start a Neighborhood Watch Program for Your Area

• Define your Neighborhood - Do this geographically and make sure to start small. About 20-25 homes so you can get to know everyone. 

   

• Talk to your Neighbors - Do they know a Neighborhood Watch program can be a lot of fun? What issues are they having, seeing, hearing? When are they available for a meeting?  

   

• Email the Gilbert Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit - The Gilbert Crime Prevention Unit will send more information on starting a Neighborhood Watch as well as schedule a mutually agreeable date for the first meeting. The initial meeting will last approximately one hour and is typically scheduled after work, Tuesday or Wednesday nights. 

   

• Advertise the meeting - Invite all your neighbors (in your geographical area). Talk to everyone when you get the opportunity, deliver flyers to each home. Remember that 50% of your designated area MUST attend the initial meeting to be able to be officially activated and obtain two street signs for your community. 

Captain / Co-Captain Responsibilities:

As a captain, you are vital in the success of the program! The captain’s involvement and enthusiasm will get the other neighbors involved. The goal is to get as many neighbors involved as possible. However, not everyone will want to be part of the program and that's okay. Make sure they know about the Neighborhood Watch program and that they are always welcome to come to the get-togethers. Make sure they know about all your events.

The captain arranges the meetings and events for the neighborhood. At least 1 event must be held every year. The event could be a meeting, a block party, potluck or any activity that gets the neighborhood together where you can get to know each other and talk. Along with holding the event, there must be a minimum 50% of participation of homes in the ‘watch’ area. 

A captain is also responsible for all required paperwork, attendance sheets from each meeting/event, flyers, and anything else that may be needed. The attendance sheets and event information are also sent to the Gilbert Police Department Crime Prevention Unit to keep us informed and to receive credit and ensure active participation.

The First Meeting:

For the first meeting we recommend having it on a Tuesday or Wednesday after work. There is a better turnout because there is less conflict than on the weekend and it gives people the opportunity to get home, have dinner and gather their family before going to the meeting.  A typical meeting normally lasts approximately 1 hour.

Invite the Gilbert Police Department Crime Prevention Unit to give an overview of what the Neighborhood Watch Program is about, as well as the importance of it. The Crime Prevention Unit will also give information about different programs that the police offer and answer any question people may have.

At every meeting, make sure time is taken to let people meet and talk with each other, this is essential to having a successful Neighborhood Watch Program.

We, the Gilbert Police, do not need to attend your required annual renewal meetings unless you would like us to address issues that are on-going in your neighborhood.  Once you have completed your first meeting, as a Captain you will have the ability to receive a call-for-service report for your area.  This report will provide data on calls made to the police department within your community each week.  It will be up to you to distribute this information to your area.

Because you are the eyes and ears of the Police Department.