Seniors and the homebound are vital resources to be tapped not only for maintaining vigilance but also to help with mailings and other organizational tasks. Further, they should be trained and instructed on how to request assistance from police if anyone is threatened or in danger. The volunteers must proceed with caution. Don t confront a suspect or drug dealer alone. Neighborhood watch volunteers should not take any risks to prevent a crime or to facilitate an arrest.
Confrontations can occur and escalate quickly.
It is important to note that patrol groups can and should work together. Organizations patrolling their own neighborhoods can share the same radio frequency and sometimes, can go on joint patrols or when necessary supplement each other s patrols in adjacent communities. In such a collaborative relationship, watch groups or patrols help each other expand their capacities to fulfill their missions. As a result of advancements in computer technology, crime mapping is becoming increasingly sophisticated, integrated and available. Nearly every police department is using some form of computer software to collect data about crime incidents and display that information on maps for analysis.