Neighborhood Watch programs cutting crime in northwest valley, police say

By Jackie Valley

Thursday, March 22, 2012 | 2 a.m.

The Neighborhood Watch signs declaring a ban on bandits aren’t just for show.

Metro Police credit the 625 Neighborhood Watch programs in the northwest valley with leading to big decreases in property crimes in that area.

Capt. John McGrath of Metro’s Northwest Area Command said auto burglaries, auto thefts and residential burglaries dropped by more than 30 percent last year, fueled by the active watch programs.

“We reduce crime by citizens helping us,” he said. “We need the eyes and ears of the community to help us catch criminals.”

A department analysis of crime data shows that 87 percent of burglaries and 98 percent of auto thefts in the northwest valley occur in areas without established Neighborhood Watch programs, McGrath said.

The success of the programs relies on neighbors knowing each other and paying attention to their surroundings, police said.

“Then you’ll know what’s suspicious in your neighborhood and doesn’t belong there,” McGrath said.

Police say it takes 10 to 30 people to form a Neighborhood Watch, with one volunteer to be the watch captain responsible for distributing information from law enforcement officials.

“The reason why I’m encouraging people to sign up for Neighborhood Watch is because it works,” McGrath said. “All you have to do is contact your area command crime prevention specialist, and they’ll tell you how to sign up.”

The following is a list of phone numbers to reach crime prevention specialist at Metro area commands:

• Bolden Area Command: 828-8349

• Downtown Area Command: 828-4306

• Northeast Area Command: 828-3340

• Northwest Area Command: 828-4305

• South Central Area Command: 828-8163

• Southeast Area Command: 828-2687

• Enterprise Area Command: 828-5804