Normal Heights Neighborhood Watch brings concerned citizens and law enforcement together to deter crime and make our community safer. Our neighbors recognize and report crimes and suspicious activities, protect each other and our property, protect our neighbor’s family and property, and identify crimes and disorder problems to work with SDPD personnel to solve them.

Getting started to organize your neighbors on the block requires at least one person (usually Block Captain) on each block willing to knock on doors and say something like:

“Hi, I’m your neighbor ___, I live at ___. We’re trying to organize the Normal Heights Neighborhood Watch on our block — is that something you would like to participate in? We are asking each neighbor to share contact information with each other — and we don’t share our personal contact information with anyone outside our block. If you’ll share your phone and email address it would make it much easier, as I will be able to share our contact info around, and keep the group informed about how we’re doing on establishing our watch.” Before you start going door to door, get the form so you can just fill in the blanks.

If one of your neighbors doesn’t have computer skills, you can type or write down their contact information. You will need to make a copy for every neighbor on the list. Since we don’t leave things in mailboxes (illegal) or leave papers in doors (makes homes look unoccupied) we suggest you either mail or hand deliver the copy to your neighbor. However you do it, sharing your contact information among yourselves is the most important step in setting up your Neighborhood Watch block.

How do I build my Neighborhood Watch?

1. Talk to your neighbors.  See which neighbors are interested in participating.
2. Tell them about the benefits of a program and the problems to be addressed.  Ask about convenient times and places for the first meeting.
3.  Be sure to mention that Neighborhood Watch does not require frequent meetings or personal risks, and that a Community Relations Officer (through the Block Captain) will be invited to the first meeting to answer questions.
4. Planning a date, time, and place for the first meeting.  Meetings are usually held at a home, school, church, or community center.  They can also be held at a SDPD area station or  storefront office.  Send out meeting announcements a few weeks ahead of the date.  You can distribute fliers, make phone calls, or send e-mails.  Send out reminders a few days before the meeting.
5. Prepare an agenda and sign-in sheet for the first meeting.  Ask the CRO to talk about the crime and disorder problems in your area, how to get crime and crime prevention information on the SDPD website at www.sandiego.gov/police, and how the partnership with the SDPD will work.  The meeting should last about one hour.  Consider providing refreshments, e.g., cookies and coffee.  The agenda should allow time for questions, answers, and other topics.
6. The first meeting is critical in forming of a group.  All attendees should introduce themselves and sign a sheet with their names, addresses, home and cell phone numbers, and e-mail addresses so they can be contacted about future meetings and activities. They should be assured that their personal information will NOT be given to anyone without their permission.  The CRO will talk about the topics listed above and answer questions.  Then the group should define the area to be covered and select a Block Captain or Co-Captains.

The area covered by a group in a neighborhood with single-family homes can range from several homes on one side of a street to several blocks with homes on both sides of the streets.  The area can also include neighborhood parks, canyons, etc.  The area covered in a neighborhood with apartment complexes can range from a single complex to several complexes.

After the group is formed their duties will depend on their organizational skills and interests, and the nature and objectives of the group.  The following are some possibilities:

-Recruit new members

-Maintain a membership list and area map with home addresses

-Keep members informed about area crime and disorder

-Try to see group members frequently

-Establish and maintain phone number and e-mail address trees that group members can use to contact residents in an emergency

-Develop an area activity profile to help members recognize unusual or suspicious activities in the area.  This could include vehicle descriptions, work hours, school hours for children, and scheduled services, e.g., gardening.

-Act as a spokesperson for the group

-Serve as liaison with the SDPD

-Plan, announce, and facilitate meetings

-Organize crime prevention activities, e.g., watching homes when residents are away