Crime Watch
The prevent of crime in Sangaree is a shared responsibility between law enforcement officials and private citizens. No number of officers, squad cars or close patrols can effectively combat the problem alone. It is absolutely essential that a concerned citizenry join hands with law enforcement in an active joint campaign to reduce residential crime. And that's where Crime Watch enters the picture. Very simply, Crime Watch involves:
Neighbors getting to know each other and working together in a program of mutual assistance.
Neighbors being trained to be more alert in recognizing suspicious activities in their communities.
Implementation of other crime deterrents such as participation in the Operation Identification property marking program and other basic home security measures.
The citizens of Sangaree can play a major role in the role of reduction of residential crime through their active participation in Crime Watch. If you're a potential victim of crime - and you certainly are - then you are a potential member of Crime Watch.
All citizens of Sangaree, those living in houses and apartments alike, are encouraged to participate in Crime Watch Program.
A Crime Watch Program is an organization of concerned citizens working together as good neighbors to reduce the crime in their neighborhood. Crime Watch programs take many forms, but in all cases, organization by blocks is the cornerstone of all citizens' crime prevention programs. The following guidelines will help establish and maintain a successful Crime Watch for an area of approximately one square mile.
Talk with neighbors and friends
Contact Sgt. Rudy Arbis - Berkeley County Sheriff's Office at 723-3800
Planning the first neighborhood meeting
Choose a date and time for the first meeting that is convenient for most neighbors and the sheriff's representative. The sheriff's office require two weeks notice. Set the date of the meeting enough in advance to give everyone adequate notice.
Make arrangements to use a convenient meeting place that will accommodate the number of people who might attend. Design a simple notice announcing the meeting. Recruit volunteers from the neighborhood to hand deliver an invitation to every home in the area.
Consider inviting an Area Chairman from an existing Crime Watch to participate. (A sheriff's office representative can help with this.)
The first meeting
The initial meeting is to provide information about the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. Plan to hand out 3"x5" cards as people arrive. Plan your meeting agenda to include:
Explanation of the purpose of the meeting. (An area chairman from an existing Crime Watch may be glad to help as the first speaker. A sheriff's office Crime Prevention Officer can help with this.)
Explanation of the need and value of a Neighborhood Crime Watch. Mention that:
Crime Watch does not require frequent meetings
Crime Watch does not require anyone to take any personal risk in preventing crime.
Crime Watch leaves responsibility for apprehending criminals with the police.
Definition of volunteer Crime Watch positions and duties.
Area Chairman
Section Coordinators
Block Captains
A 2-3 minute break to allow each person to fill out 3"x5" cards which should include:
Name
Address
Telephone Number (s)
Willingness to serve in a Crime Watch position
Collection of Cards
Introduction of sheriff's office representative who may speak on subjects such as:
Crime occurrences and problems in your area
Effective crime prevention techniques for your home and neighborhood safety (possibly a vide)
Suspicious activity and how to report it
Question and answer period
Planning the meeting to organize a Crime Watch Program
Work with the completed 3"x5" cards from the first meeting to make a list of all neighbors who have said they would serve in a Crime Watch position.
Choose a date and time for a meeting that is convenient for most of the neighbors who said they would serve in a Crime Watch position. (Should be held within 3 or 4 weeks after the first meeting.) Make arrangements to use a convenient meeting place that will accommodate the number of people who might attend.
Design a simple notice announcing the meeting. Hand deliver or mail an invitation to each person who has volunteered for a Crime Watch position at the first meeting.
Prepare a large map of the area to be organized. Divide the area into clearly defined sections of 70 to 120 home or 5 to 8 blocks each.
Separate all cards from the first meeting by sections and make a list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers for each section.
Decide the number of block captains needed for each section. A block captain for each area of 8-15 homes is recommended.
Prepare a sign-in book with each line numbered. Prepare map dots with corresponding numbers.
The organizational meeting
Display organization map.
Provide name tags.
Have neighbors sign the book and place a corresponding number dot on the map at their place of residence.
Meeting Agenda:
Opening remarks explaining the purpose for the meeting.
Nomination and election of an area chairman. (Must be willing to accept the position.)
Election of section coordinator for each section.
Selection of block captains and identifying openings.
Define Crime Watch positions and duties: area chairman, section coordinators, block captains.
Hold nominations and election of area chairman.
Area chairman assumes control of the meeting:
Discuss crime situation in the area (information will be provided by a sheriff's office representative.)
Explain Operation ID Program and encourage participation.
Discuss installation of approved Crime Watch signs.
Divide attendees by section for election of section coordinators and selection of block captain (turn in selections to area chairman). Give each section the list of neighbors who attended the first meeting to assist them in filling vacancies.
Discuss strategy to fill block captain openings.
Question and Answer period
Section Coordinator's meetings with Block Captain
These meetings are very important for training block captains and getting their help in making the Crime Watch work at the critical level - that of the individual citizen. Plan meetings at a time that is convenient for most of the block captains. Schedule additional meetings only when needed. Ask area chairman to help with the meeting.
Meeting Agenda:
Explain Crime Watch and what it can accomplish with neighbors' help. Introduce and discuss:
Incidence of crime in the area for the current year.
What can be done to increase residential security and make crime more difficult - target hardening.
Operation ID.
Suspicious activity and how to report it.
Criss-cross directories, call forwarding.
The time of day most crimes occur.
How they occur - rear entry, front entry, breaking glass, etc.
Suspect and suspect vehicle descriptions.
Installations of Crime Watch signs.
Emphasize that good neighbors who know each other and watch out for each other are perhaps the best weapon against crime. Also mention that:
Crime Watch does not require many meetings.
Crime Watch does not require anyone to take a personal risk in preventing crime.
Crime Watch leaves responsibility for apprehending criminals where is belongs - with the police.
One of the best ways to take an active part in crime prevention is to participate in Crime Watch where each person becomes more alert and aware of what's going on within the neighborhood.
Participation in a Crime Watch is not something that requires a lot of time. It means only that each person adopts a more observant and active attitude on a daily basis. Neighbors will get to know each other better and will, as a result, become more aware of strange cars, persons or circumstances which might be a danger and require calling the police.
What the participants do to make their homes more secure and how alert they become is entirely up to them. The more prepared individuals are, the more effective will be the weapon against crime. The following guidelines have been proven to be successful:
Get to know the neighbors. Know their names and be able to identify them and their vehicles by sight.
Maintain a map of the immediate neighborhood with names and addresses.
Mark the home as burglar-resistant as possible.
Mark all property for identification by using the "Operation Identification" Program.
Be observant and watch over neighbors; homes especially when they are not at home or out of town.
Write down license numbers and descriptions of suspicious-looking persons and vehicles in the neighborhood and report them to the sheriff's office at 911.
Report information that may be helpful in solving a crime to the area chairman.
Educate children in crime prevention and teach respect for law enforcement and police officers.
Anything that seems slightly "out of place" or is occurring at an usual time of day could be criminal activity. Call about all suspicious activity. Do no worry about bothering them or about being embarrassed if your suspicious prove to be unfounded. Think instead of what could happen if you don't act.
The sheriff's office would rather investigate than be called when it's too late. Your call could save a life, prevent an injury, or stop a criminal act. Be alert.