Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch Program is an effective crime prevention tool which involves the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities. It substantially reduces residential burglary and other crimes, because a good neighbor is one of the most effective crime prevention tools ever invented.

Click Here to Download a Neighborhood Watch Concern Card

Neighborhood Watch involves:

• Neighbors getting to know each other and working together to maintain a system of surveillance over one another's property, children, etc.
• Informing citizens how to recognize and report suspicious activities in progress accurately and immediately.
• Creating communication links between the community and the police through newsletters and crime prevention presentations.
• Posting signs and stickers, creating physical barriers and psychological barriers for criminals.
• Developing a partnership between the Berwyn Police Department and the residents of Berwyn.

Why Neighborhood Watch?

• There cannot be a law enforcement officer on every corner in Berwyn, so citizen involvement is essential to combat crime.
• You and your neighbors are the ones who really know what is going on in your community.
• By cooperating with each other and the police, people can help fight crime in their community in the most effective way-before it begins!

Gather and Share Information
Knowing your neighbors' basic habits and belongings will help you to recognize unusual or suspicious activities.

Basic information you might exchange includes:

• Home and work phone numbers
• Number, ages and identity of family members
• Work hours
• School hours of children
• License plate numbers and types of automobiles
• Planed vacations or visitors
• Scheduled deliveries or repairs
• Any other helpful information
• Talk to your neighbors

Guidelines

• Organize a meeting for the residents on your block.
• Distribute Neighborhood Watch Newsletter and have participants in their window the sign warning burglars that this is an active "Neighborhood Watch Community" and "if I don't call the police, my neighbor will."
• Develop a phone chain or email newsletter for everyone on your block. This can be utilized when important information needs to be distributed to all residents in a prompt manner.
• Gather information from neighbors and organize it on your information sheet provided by the Berwyn Police Department. Keep this card in a convenient location - perhaps near the phone.
• Above all, be concerned. It's the most effective way to reduce or prevent crime and make your neighborhood safe.

If a crime does occur...report it!

• Be suspicious. Report unusual or suspicious behavior to the police. Write down the description of the person(s) and license numbers of any vehicles involved.
• Sounds easy, but unfortunately only about half of all crimes are ever reported. Information is the key to solving many crimes, and that information comes from YOU.
• Even an anonymous tip is better than no report at all. So don't hesitate. Follow this rule: If you see something suspicious, call the police - fast - so the police can act - fast. The longer you wait, the harder it is to catch the criminal.
• Remember, your job is to REPORT crime. The responsibility for apprehending criminals belongs to the police.

Berwyn Police Department Non-Emergency Number (708) 795-5600

911 for Police and Fire Emergencies