Crime in turn feeds on the social isolation it creates. You and your neighbors can prevent or break this vicious cycle, and in the process, build your community into a safer, friendlier, and more caring place to live.
Statistics tell the story.
Police and sheriffs' departments in cities, small towns, and suburbs throughout the country report substantial decreases in crime and fear due to local crime prevention efforts. Start with a Neighborhood Watch or block club to address immediate crime problems, focus on home security, and build neighborhood cohesion. Then move into other areas such as educating residents about child protection, drug abuse victim services, and domestic violence. Watch groups are a foundation of community crime prevention and a stepping stone to community revitalization. Meetings, Block Captains, and Maps Organize a meeting for neighbors from your street, block, or apartment house to discuss the crime problem in your area, residents' concerns, and the Watch concept.