Neighborhood Watch is a national program designed
by police to educate citizens on local crime issues. At Neighborhood Watch
meetings local police representatives instruct and educate you and your neighbors
on how to discourage and prevent common residential crimes like car theft and
burglary in your neighborhood. Police believe Neighborhood Watch street
signs or signs posted in home windows are effective crime deterrents.
Volunteers Needed for Neighborhood Watch
Meetings
If you are a Woodside
resident, your assistance is needed in hosting a Neighborhood Watch meeting.
It's a great way to meet your neighbors and learn how you can together prevent
crime in your neighborhood.
At a meeting, community
police volunteers, as well as police officers will be on hand to speak about
recent neighborhood crimes, explain what you can do to keep your family and
home safe, and teach you how to detect and report suspicious activity.
All Neighborhood Watch
attendees will receive a Neighborhood Watch sign to post at their homes, as
well as other support material. Streets with 80% or more attendance will
receive a Neighborhood Watch Street Sign. Thus far, approximately 40%
of the tract has participated in the program. The Woodside Homeowners
Association's goal is to have 100% participation.
Woodside
Emergency Action Plan
Combined with Neighborhood
Watch meetings, a representative of the Woodside Emergency Response Team (WERT)
will present the Woodside Emergency Action Plan. This action plan will
go into effect after an earthquake or any other natural disaster. You
can learn where and how to receive help in the event of an emergency, as well
as how to volunteer to give help.
Together, the Woodside
Neighborhood Watch and WERT programs work to strengthening our Woodside community.
Be a part of the effort. We need volunteers to host Watch/WERT meetings throughout
the year.
Contact Nancy Soule if
you are interested in hosting or meeting, or would like more information regarding
the program.
Tips on
How to Reduce Burglary
- Host a Neighborhood
Watch Meeting.
- Install a burglar
alarm system.
- Mark valuable
items with an engraving pen.
- Don't keep expensive
jewelry at home.
- Keep shrubbery
trimmed.
- Make sure your
lawn is groomed.
- Put peepholes
in doors.
- Never leave
notes on your door.
- Leave interior
lights on when you are away – use timers.
- Light the outside
of your house – use timers.
- When your away,
park a car in your driveway.
- Install good
locks on all doors and windows.
- Secure your
patio door with a dead-bolt.
- Keep the garage
door closed.
- Don't leave
empty garbage cans out when you are away – Ask your neighbor to remove
them from the sidewalk.
- Display "beware"
of signs.
- Leave a radio
on.
