Community Scene Blog Make Safer Communities with Neighborhood Watch

Submitted by Rick Palmer - CEO on Oct 30 - 8:29 am.Neighborhood Watch groups are a smart way to help protect the safety of your community, and Community Scene can help you start a watch program, organize and schedule watch meetings, and keep neighbors informed through real-time notifications of reported incidents.According to the FBI, over 2.1 million incidents of burglary were committed in 2012. A burglary takes place in the U.S. every 14.3 seconds, according to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program Crime Clock.Burglary can also happen in daytime hours. In fact, the National Crime Prevention Council reports that more than 60 percent of all residential burglaries occurred during daylight hours.While these statistics are alarming, they remind us of the ever-growing impact of crime in the United States -- and that no matter where you reside, you are a potential victim.How to make a differenceHere are some practical tips for setting up or getting involved with a Neighborhood Watch program.Schedule and organize Neighborhood Watch meetings using the event calendar on your local Community Scene page.Post Neighborhood Watch road signs with warnings to would-be intruders.Place a Neighborhood Watch sticker on your front door, a front window, or post a sign on your lawn. This small but significant act is an excellent deterrent and lets would-be intruders know that you and your community are watching.Post updates to your local Community Scene page to send neighbors real-time notifications about neighborhood activity. To find the nearest Neighborhood Watch group, contact your community association, call your local police department, or post in your local Community Scene page.