Neighborhood Watch Information

How do you start a Neighborhood Watch Program?

Ask your neighbors if they are interested in setting up a Neighborhood Crime Watch Group. Ask them for their support and participation in this program. Set up a convenient date, time and place. A nearby park may work or the Crime Prevention Officer has access to meeting areas. Contact the Crime Prevention Officer to arrange for the meeting at 952-233-9400.

How formal is this organization?

You will need to choose a block captain, co-captain if needed, and keep a list of member households.

Will this be very time consuming?

Neighborhood Watch Groups only need to meet two times per year, one preferably on National Night Out (1 st Tuesday of every August). The Crime Prevention Officer will attend these meetings, and they usually last from one to one-and-a-half hours.

Do the meetings need to be specific Neighborhood Watch program meetings?

No. We encourage block parties, picnics, Christmas parties, Halloween parties, etc. Just remind the attendees about the Crime Prevention goal of the Watch group.

What kinds of programs can be conducted for watch groups?

Just about anything. Home security, personal safety, bicycle safety, drug awareness, stranger danger, fire prevention, etc. If you have an area of particular interest, contact the Crime Prevention Officer.

What’s the real advantage of a Watch group?

First, you’ll get to know your neighbors better. With everyone watching the neighborhood for suspicious situations and potential criminals, your neighborhood will automatically become a safer place.

It is easy for the police to get timely information to citizens through Watch groups. We can contact one person and reach many.

The Crime Prevention Officer also provides a report showing recent crime activity in your area.

Watch groups help the police help you by getting information to us in a timely manner. We need group ears and eyes to do our job effectively.

Neighborhood Watch takes only a small commitment from you – a commitment to oppose crime in your neighborhood by cooperating with neighbors to watch your area and let the police know what is going on. By working together we can keep Shakopee a very safe place to live.

What are the responsibilites of participants?

The Neighborhood Watch Group participant responsibilities are to:

1. Learn neighbors' names and be able to recognize them and their vehicles.

2. Keep a personal block map, block profile sheet, and telephone tree in an accessible place and continue to update them.

3. Attend all watch meetings.

4. Implement all security measures suggested by law enforcement after a home security survey.

5. Identify all property using the guidelines suggested by Operation ID.

6. Keep an eye on neighbors' homes and report any suspicious activities to the Shakopee Police Department (911) and to neighbors.

7. Write down a description of any suspicious-looking persons or vehicles and report them to the police.

8. Teach children crime prevention and respect for law enforcement.

9. Be a good witness.  Do not take any risk if you observe a crime.  Do not try to make an arrest.

10. Stop the mail and newspapers when you are gone for an extended time period.

11. Notify the Block Captain and neighbors when you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time.