Neighborhood Block Watch

Overview

  • Citizens and police working in partnership to reduce crimes and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods.
  • A cohesive body of concerned citizens addressing issues that concern the entire community.
  • Neighbors getting to know each other, taking the time to care about each other and working together in a program of mutual assistance.
  • Empowering citizens to help reduce their chances of becoming a victim through education and teamwork.

For more information on how to form an effective Neighborhood Watch program in your area contact the City of Apache Junction Police Department's Community Resource Unit at (480) 474-5442.


Why Neighborhood Watch?

A comprehensive Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood, whether it is a high-crime area or not, will have many rewards to you, your family and your neighbors.


Neighborhood Watch programs are known to instill a greater sense of security, well being, and reduce the fear of crime in your community as well as create a greater sense of community, by putting the neighbor back into neighborhood.


Residents that live in an area know the needs of that area better than anyone else. By communicating with each other and working together as a team, the residents can really make a difference.


To share this information with your neighbors, you can print a Block Watch Brochure by clicking here and Block Watch Program Summary .


Easy to Start

Many people believe that crime is a police problem. If something happens, call the police. If it keeps happening, it's because the police aren't doing enough to stop it. Unfortunately, that is not the case.


Crime is a community problem and no one entity can combat it alone. The odds of an officer being at the right place at the right time to apprehend a crime suspect is small. Therefore, police officers need the eyes and ears of residents to assist them. And the residents of a community need police officers to assist them. By working together our chances of successfully combating crime increase greatly.


To get a Neighborhood Watch Program started in your community, follow these two initial steps:


1. Talk to the neighbors in your area to establish the level of interest. If approximately 50% of your neighbors are interested, schedule a meeting.


2. Contact the AJPD Community Resource Unit at (480) 474-5442 to set a date/time/and location for a meeting. The Community Resource Coordinator will bring materials and present on the benefits of a NW program and how to get one started.


Benefits

  • Reducing the risk of being a crime victim
  • Being better prepared to respond to suspicious activity
  • Obtaining Neighborhood Watch signs to post in your neighborhood
  • Knowing your neighbors
  • Reducing the fear of crime and making your neighborhood more livable
  • Allowing other issues of concern for the community as a whole to be addressed