• Neighborhood Watch
  • Why have a neighborhood watch
  • Take a stand
  • Getting together
  • Taking back the neighborhood
  • Things neighbors can do
  • Neighborhood watch brochures
  • Organizers Guide
• Child Safety
  • Bicycle Safety
  • Bullying
  • Can I Help Make My Child's School Safer?
  • Child Abuse
  • Child Car Seats
  • Child Dispute Resolution
  • Child Fingerprinting and ID
  • Child Safety Training
  • Crime Prevention Tips for Children
    • 10 Things Kids Can do to Prevent Violence
    • Prevention of Crimes Against Children
    • What Children Need to Know
• Home Security
  • Alarm Program
  • Burglary Prevention
  • Emergency Planning
  • Home Security Checklist
  • Home Security Hardware
  • Home Security Questionairre
  • Vacation Home Check Program
• Personal Security
  • ATM Banking Safety
  • Avoiding Violence
  • Bicycle Safety
  • Crime Prevention for Your Vehicle
  • Crime Prevention for Seniors
  • Domestic Violence
    • Getting Help
    • Myths and Facts
  • Recognizing Abuse and Getting Help
  • Fraud Prevention
• Drug Awareness
  • Drug Free School Zones
  • Talking With Kids About Drugs
  • How Can I Help a Friend With a Drug or Alcohol Problem
  • Inhalents and Marijuana
  • Narcotics and Drug Prevention
  • Clandestine Drug Labs
  • Prescription Drug Abuse
• Gang Awareness
  • Keeping Kids out of Gangs
  • Graffiti and Vandalism
  • What Parents Can Do
• Business Security
  • Alarm Program
  • Crime Prevention Tips for Businesses
    • Buisness Robberies
    • Protecting Company Information
    • Taking Crime Prevention to Work
• Special Services
  • Crime Pin Mapping
  • School Resource Officer
  • Weekly Crime Activity Report

Getting Together

How to Get a Neighborhood Watch Started

You can start a neighborhood watch in any area by contacting the Lincoln Police Department to learn is there is program started in your area. If there's not, the police can get you started with kits and information. Then you'll want to talk to your neighbors and recruit participants. Make sure to get their names and phone numbers so you can contact them when it's time to schedule meetings. Good times for meetings are usually after dinner on Mondays through Thursdays.

Initial Steps

• Contact the Lincoln Police Department for help in training members in home security and reporting skills and for information on local crime patterns.

• Hold an initial meeting to gauge neighbors interest; establish the purpose of the program; and begin to identify issues that need to be addressed.

• Select a coordinator.

• Ask for block captain volunteers who are responsible for relaying information to members.

• Recruit members, keeping up-to-date information on new residents and making special efforts to involve the elderly, working parents, and young people.

• Work with local government or law enforcement to put up Neighborhood Watch signs, usually after at least 50 percent of all households are enrolled.

• Be sure it doesn’t conflict with other important events.

• Make sure there is enough room at the meeting place for everyone to be comfortably seated. Not enough room at a home in the neighborhood? Maybe a church basement, a school classroom, or a business or community meeting room is available.
  

Next Steps

• Plan to keep meetings fairly brief—less than two hours is probably good. Have an agenda prepared for the group’s approval.

• Invite people in person, by phone, by flier—whatever’s most appropriate. Knock on doors, send notes, or make phone calls to remind them.

• Invite schools, businesses, and houses of worship to send representatives. Ask local officials—law enforcement, elected officials, social services, others—to send someone who can explain how they can help.

• Share the work so that people work together from the start. One person can organize refreshments; another can be in charge of reminder calls. Someone else can set up the room. Someone can take notes and write up your group’s decisions. Another neighbor can be the "researcher," gathering information in advance. Another can lead the discussion.

• Allow people to share their concerns. You’ll be surprised how much you all have in common. But don’t get caught in a gripe session.

• Remember, you’re there as a group to decide what problems you’ll tackle and what actions you’ll take, not just to talk. Everyone should have a chance to take part, but be sure the group makes some clear decisions.

• Your group should consider surveying neighbors, either in person or by phone, to get a better idea of the range of their problems and concerns.

• Don’t plan to tackle every problem at once. The group should identify one or two issues that need immediate action—but keep track of (and get back to) other problems. For instance,

• List next steps and who will take them. Try to get everyone to commit to helping with your plan. Agree on the next time, date, and place for a meeting and the subjects that should be covered.
  

Unsure about how to run a meeting? Talk to a member of the clergy, a local civic leader, a business person, the League of Women Voters, or the Chamber of Commerce. One of them will be glad to share experiences in making meetings effective.

I live in an apartment building. Can I start a Neighborhood Watch?

Yes. Watch Groups can be formed around any geographical unit: a block, apartment building, townhouse complex, park, business area, public housing complex, office building, or marina.

Stay Safe

In the Stay Safe section of our website, you can find a number of tips and ideas to do just that. Stay safe! We believe at the Lincoln Police Department that education is a key factor in crime prevention. In this section you can find ways to keep yourself, your children, you homes, and your businesses safe.

You can also take a look at crime statistics, recent activity, and crimes that have taken place in your neighborhood. Just go to the Special Services tab on the left and you can take advantage of the tools we've provided on our site.