Neighborhood Watch is one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce fear. Neighborhood Watch fights the isolation that crime both creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents, helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between police and the communities they serve.
WHY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH?
Because it works! Throughout the country, dramatic decreases in burglary and related offenses are reported by law enforcement professionals in communities with active Watch programs.
Rehoboth Beach's unique mix of fulltime residents, "snow birds" and second home owners often leaves many more houses vacant than are occupied at certain times of the year. An empty hjouse is a prime target for burglary.
Rehoboth Beach's influx of large numbers of summer guests places the community at greater for unnoticed crime.
WHO CAN BE INVOLVED?
Any community resident can join - young, old, single and married, renter and homeowner. Even the busiest of people can belong to Neighborhood Watch - they too can keep an eye out for neighbors as they come and go.
WHAT DOES A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH DO?
A Neighborhood Watch is neighbors helping neighbors. They are extra eyes and ears for reporting crime or suspicious activity.
Members meet their neighbors, learn how to make their home more secure, watch out for each other and the neighborhood, and report activities that raise their suspicions to the police.
Mark valuable property with an identifying number to discourage theft and help law enforcement agencies identify and return stolen property.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH?
Be alert!Be observant!
Know your neighbors and watch out for each other.
Report suspicious activities and crimes to the police or to your block captain.
Learn how you can make yourself and your communmity safer.
There is no time commitment - you "watch" during your normal day-to-day activities.
WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES SHOULD I BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
AS A WATCH MEMBER?
Anything suspicious...
Someone shouting for help.
Someonw looking in windows of houses and parked cars.
Property being taken out of houses where no one is at home or from closed businesses.
Vehicles moving slowly with no apparent destination or without lights.
HOW SHOULD I REPORT THESE INCIDENTS OR OBSERVATIONS?
Call the Rehoboth Beach Police Department at (302) 227-2577 or call your block captain. (For emergencies, dial 911.)
Give your name, address and phone number.
Explain what you observed.
HOW DO I BENEFIT BY JOINING NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH?
Establish better relationships with your neighbors and the police.
Receive email notices generated by the police department.
Use email for two-way communications with the police department.
IT'S ALL ABOUT
COMMUNICATIONS !
We recognize that many people are reluctant to notify the police about their suspicions, concerns, or even just their "gut" feelings about what they may feel are criminal activity, or maybe things that "just don't look right".
Quite often, citizens' hunches turn out to be valuable information to us. If you have information that you feel we should know, we encourage you to contact us directly or through a block captain.
Any information that you provide us will be held strictly confidential. Your information will be passed on to the appropriate division within our department. We will contact you with a follow-up.
