Neighborhood Watch - What Is It?
The term Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch, Town Watch and Crime Watch are synonymous. The Watch is basically an alliance of neighbors who look out for each other's family and property.

A Watch area is usually geographic in nature and is usually a grouping of single residences, condominiums, apartments, or townhouses. The Watch encourages neighbors to occasionally attend meetings designed to enhance a feeling of community by providing information on safety and security. They alert police to any suspicious activity or crime in progress with the purpose in making their community a safer and better place to live.

How Do We Get Started?
Organize a meeting for neighbors, block, apartment or homes associations and business owners. A Watch can be organized around any geographic unit.

Publicize the topic of the Watch concept, so members can discuss crime, problems, and concern within the area. Request a representative from the Lenexa Police Department to answer questions at the meeting.

After We Get Started...
Remember that a rush to start a Watch program is usually in response to a problem or incident rather than a preventative measure that is already in place. The interest or enthusiasm usually diminishes after the cause (usually a rash of burglaries or personal attacks) subsides or the offender is apprehended.

The Watch group should consist of over 60% of the members within the geographic area. Watch signs are prepared and erected by the city.

The group or organization should select a coordinator and/or block captains. The block captains recruit other neighbors, serve as liaison between neighborhood and law enforcement, and inform residents of meetings and criminal activity in the area.

A map should be prepared showing names, addresses and telephone numbers of participating households. This should be distributed to members, and block captains should update the information as resident's change.

The Watch group should continually emphasize that they are not taking the place of law enforcement. They only ask neighbors to be alert, observant and caring and report suspicious activity or crimes immediately to the police.

A representative from the Lenexa Police Department can assist or train members in home and personal security, observation skills, and accurate crime reporting.

Hold regular meetings to provide timely and accurate information.

Consider linking or sharing information with other organizations or Watch programs.

Use existing technology to your advantage:

Access the Lenexa Police Department Home page to gather information regarding crimes and various activities in and around your Watch group.

A direct facsimile, CP3, program exists that provides a way in which information can be sent directly to a designated group representative.