NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCHCRIME WATCH

St. Mary’s County St. Mary’s County

Sheriff’s OfficeSheriff’s Office

What is Crime Watch?What is Crime Watch?

Crime Watch encourages residents of a Crime Watch encourages residents of a particular area to prevent crime by particular area to prevent crime by communicating with each other and police.communicating with each other and police.

Crime Watch encourages citizens to take an Crime Watch encourages citizens to take an active role in their community by being the active role in their community by being the eyes and ears for law enforcement.eyes and ears for law enforcement.

Crime WatchCrime Watch

Teaches citizens techniques to reduce the Teaches citizens techniques to reduce the risk of being victimized at home and in risk of being victimized at home and in public.public.

Trains citizens how to recognize and report Trains citizens how to recognize and report crimes and suspicious activities.crimes and suspicious activities.

Teaches home security techniques.Teaches home security techniques. Encourages neighbors to get to know each Encourages neighbors to get to know each

other and their routines.other and their routines.

Crime WatchCrime Watch

Brings citizens and police together to Brings citizens and police together to address the needs and concerns of the address the needs and concerns of the entire community.entire community.

Crime Watch is NOT…Crime Watch is NOT…

A vigilante force.A vigilante force.

A program designed to put it’s participants A program designed to put it’s participants at risk.at risk.

A guarantee that crime will not occur in our A guarantee that crime will not occur in our community.community.

Crime Watch AdvantagesCrime Watch Advantages

Promotes community growth, strength and Promotes community growth, strength and unity.unity.

Generates concern among neighbors.Generates concern among neighbors. Increases community awareness and Increases community awareness and

involvement.involvement. Increase overall communication.Increase overall communication.

What do we do now?What do we do now?

Exchange basic information with trusted Exchange basic information with trusted neighbors.neighbors.

Report all suspicious activities to the Report all suspicious activities to the Sheriff’s Office:Sheriff’s Office:

301-475-8008301-475-8008 911 emergency911 emergency

Provide accurate descriptions of suspicious persons Provide accurate descriptions of suspicious persons and vehicles.and vehicles.

What to doWhat to do

Keep neighbors informed of houses that will Keep neighbors informed of houses that will be unoccupied for extended periods of time.be unoccupied for extended periods of time.

Look after neighbor’s houses when they are Look after neighbor’s houses when they are away. Know how to contact them in case of away. Know how to contact them in case of an emergency.an emergency.

Make neighbors aware of crimes and Make neighbors aware of crimes and suspicious activity that has occurred in the suspicious activity that has occurred in the community.community.

Suspicious ActivitySuspicious ActivityWhat To ReportWhat To Report

Door to door solicitors asking strange or Door to door solicitors asking strange or inappropriate questions.inappropriate questions.

Strangers hanging around parks, bus stops Strangers hanging around parks, bus stops and other places frequented by children.and other places frequented by children.

Persons hanging out in parks and around Persons hanging out in parks and around businesses after they are closed.businesses after they are closed.

Abandoned vehicles in unusual locations.Abandoned vehicles in unusual locations.

Suspicious ActivitySuspicious Activity

A non-resident going into a back or side A non-resident going into a back or side yard of a residence.yard of a residence.

Persons carrying property in a suspicious Persons carrying property in a suspicious manner. manner.

Someone forcing entry into a vehicle or Someone forcing entry into a vehicle or residence.residence.

Persons looking into parked vehicles or Persons looking into parked vehicles or hanging around parking lots at night.hanging around parking lots at night.

When You CallWhen You Call

What – do not exaggerateWhat – do not exaggerate Where – be specificWhere – be specific WhenWhen Any InjuriesAny Injuries Description of vehicles and persons.Description of vehicles and persons. Direction of travel.Direction of travel. Remain on the line and keep the operator Remain on the line and keep the operator

updated.updated.

Crimes in progress and life threatening Crimes in progress and life threatening emergencies take priority over other calls.emergencies take priority over other calls.

Remember DO NOT confront any situation, Remember DO NOT confront any situation, wait for the police to arrive.wait for the police to arrive.

I.D. ValuablesI.D. Valuables

Mark Valuables with your drivers license number Mark Valuables with your drivers license number and state.and state.

Make a list of all valuables and keep in a safe Make a list of all valuables and keep in a safe place. Don’t forget to include serial numbers.place. Don’t forget to include serial numbers.

Photograph or video tape valuables that can’t be Photograph or video tape valuables that can’t be marked.marked.

Include a list of credit card information and fraud Include a list of credit card information and fraud reporting numbers with your property list.reporting numbers with your property list.

Home Security SurveysHome Security Surveys

Request a free security survey.Request a free security survey.

An officer will respond to your house and An officer will respond to your house and give you tips on how to make your home give you tips on how to make your home more secure.more secure.

To schedule a survey contact your To schedule a survey contact your Community Service Officer or call 301-475-Community Service Officer or call 301-475-8008.8008.