Longwood University Neighborhood Watch Program
Neighborhood Watch, in various forms, has been around for many years. Today it is one of the most popular and successful of all efforts to prevent residential crime. Here in Virginia, it is reported that several hundred thousand households are participating in local Neighborhood Watch programs.
Perhaps one reason for the success of neighborhood Watch is its simplicity. Although programs may vary the ways they are organized and the methods used to reduce the opportunity for crime, all are predicated on the need for residents to protect their neighborhood by observing and reporting suspicious or unusual activities.
Benefits
Many communities with active programs have experienced substantial decreases in burglary, vandalism and larceny. In addition to the prevention of residential crime, Neighborhood Watch:
- Creates a greater awareness of crime;
- Increases reporting of crime and suspicious activities;
- Serves as a warning to criminals;
- Promotes neighborliness;
- Provides residents with access to crime patterns and trends that may threaten them; and
- Increases arrest and conviction of criminals due to the availability of eye witnesses.
Contact
To become a member of the Longwood University Neighborhood Watch, contact:
Sergeant Delbert Dove
434-395-2091
dovedd@longwood.edu