Huber Ridge Area

Become a Block Watch Member - You are Needed

What Block Watch Is

Block Watch, or Neighborhood Watch, is really just an extension of what you are probably already doing on an informal basis. We tend to know and watch out for our closest neighbors, but a group of neighbors at one end of the block who are doing this may not know the group of neighbors at the other end of the block. Organizing a Block Watch makes this attitude of watchfulness more systematic, and provides an opportunity to get to know our neighbors.

IT TAKES TWO COMMITMENTS. Block Watch requires a commitment to be concerned about your neighbor's property and well being as well as your own. It is also a commitment that when you see suspicious activity, you take action by calling the Police Dispatcher at 889.9494; or to report a crime call 911 immediately.

What Block Watch is Not

Block Watch (Neighborhood Watch) or Window Watch doesn't require you to perform any special tasks, go to a lot of meetings, or take on extra responsibilities. You do not have to patrol the neighborhood or chase burglars. It just involves being alert as part of your everyday life. For example, when you go to the window to open and close drapes or blinds, instead of just opening or closing them and turning away, you might stop for a moment and glance around the neighborhood to be sure everything is as expected. When you go out to get in the car to go to work, instead of heading for the car with "tunnel vision," glance up and check the neighborhood. It is this kind of "watching" that is involved.

Being a part of Block Watch doesn't require you to live in your neighbor's hip pocket, or tell them every aspect of your business. You can still conduct your life in privacy. All it requires is that you and your neighbors be familiar enough with each other to know who belongs in the neighborhood and who doesn't; which cars are a part of the neighborhood and which aren't; and when something suspicious is going on. It does not require you to be any friendlier than you want to be.

Block Watch is not just for home owners. One aspect of the program - upgrading your home security - is more easily implemented if you own the home because you do not need to get the landlord's permission to make changes (such as installing new locks). But the other two aspects - engraving an identification number on your property, and the Block Watch concept of neighbor watching out for neighbor - are just as important for renters as for home owners.

How Can You Get Involved and Why?

Everyone can be a part of Block Watch, either formally or informally. On a formal basis and to be effective, we need key people on each street whom we can count on to function as a street representative as indicated in the by-laws. The informal basis of Block Watch is simply by fulfilling the two commitments previously mentioned.

The bottom line is this: If you appreciate a sense of peace and want property values to increase; if you want to attract good neighbors and keep present ones, then Block Watch makes sense.