Neighborhood Watch

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Neighborhood Watch

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.

neighborhoodwatch Duarte realizes that the community's active involvement in crime prevention efforts is essential to reducing crime, protecting property, and ensuring neighborhoods remain safe. Through the City's Neighborhood Watch Program, you can help your neighbors reduce crime and maintain Duarte's reputation as one of the safest cities in the San Gabriel Valley.

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that requires the active participation of residents in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in Duarte. The City of Duarte currently has over 150 active block captains & co-block captains.

The key person in any Neighborhood Watch group is the Block Captain. This person is an integral component to keeping the block actively involved in crime prevention efforts as well as the important process of information exchange between neighbors. Many Neighborhood Watch groups flourish, but some dwindle while others disappear totally. How successful they are depends on the Block Captain and the support he or she receives from neighbors.

Dispel Myths

Neighborhood Watch does not require frequent meetings.
Neighborhood Watch does not ask anyone to take any personal risk to prevent crime.
Neighborhood Watch leaves the responsibility of apprehending criminals where it belongs-with law enforcement personnel.

What does it involve?

Crime prevention is a job for you and your neighbors because you are the best people to do it. You are encouraged to develop relationships in your neighborhood. You and your neighbors can work together in a program of mutual assistance by organizing groups, holding periodic neighborhood watch meetings, and keeping lines of communication open with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department. Remember that you are a proactive part of law enforcement. Our local Neighborhood Watch Program needs the following participation from our community:

National Night Out – What is NNO? On the first Tuesday of August, join together with your Neighborhood Watch Block to celebrate a "Going Away Party for Crime!" It's a great way to get reacquainted with your neighbors. The Duarte Public Safety will host a Emergency Preparedness Fair.
Participation in the annual Holiday Toy Drive – Beginning in November, share in the holiday spirit with your neighbors by joining together to collect toys to support of local Duarte families in need of extra help.
Reporting specific suspicious activity and unsafe Situations as they occur
Coordinating Neighborhood Watch Meetings as needed
Assisting in law enforcement by relaying important crime related to your neighborhood and keeping them safe

Many Block Captains are creative in their approach. They may contact new residents to get them involved and to obtain their support and participation and update their membership list as needed.

How can I get involved?

To join a Neighborhood Watch group or start one contact Aida Torres at the Duarte Public Safety at (626) 359-5671 ext. 316 or via email at A2Torres@lasd.org to obtain a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain Registration Form.
Use your eyes and ears and then your telephone.
If you spot something suspicious, call Temple Station at (626) 285-7171 and report it.