Neighborhood Watch

*** To report a crime or an emergency please call 911 immediately***

Block Captain Training and Public Safety Open House – Saturday, November 27.
This important, informative meeting will take place at 1 pm on Saturday, November, 27, at the Buddhist Congregational Church of Greater Philadelphia, located at Union and Nyack Avenues. Borough Council public safety officials will be on hand to hear your concerns. For more information, download the flyer or email Councilman Michael Schleigh.

Introduction

A community that looks out for one another is safer and more secure. Accordingly, the Lansdowne Borough Council Public Safety Committee and the Lansdowne Police Department encourage all residents to participate in the Neighborhood Watch program. This model, which permits universal participation by training all residents to be additional eyes and ears of the town in assisting the police force in keeping our neighborhood secure and safe, preventing crime through deterrence, and building a sense of community. This program nonetheless relies on those few pillars of our community who are willing to be outgoing and organize their fellow neighbors, help lead and host training and informational programs to build crime prevention skills, and be good neighbors. We ask all those interested in leading this charge to volunteer to be a block captain today. Contact us to find out how and we will help you organize and provide additional materials.

How to Become Involved

• Volunteer to be a block captain and ask us to help you set up an organizational meeting for you and your neighbors. We can provide speakers and materials to help you organize your part of the borough.
• Ask your neighbors if they are already involved in the Neighborhood Watch program
• Sign up to our e-mail list for periodic updates on special events and crime prevention and public safety tips (this should have a link to sign up for an e-blast list)
• Follow our discussion forum
• Monitor the police department’s weekly crime blotter and know what is going on in your neighborhood.
• Agree to sponsor a special event

Contact Us

Lansdowne Neighborhood Watch is sponsored by the Lansdowne Police Department and the Lansdowne Borough Public Safety Committee. For more information, please contact:

Chief Daniel Kortan, Lansdowne Police Department

Officer Crescent Brown, Neighborhood Watch Police Liaison

Michael Schleigh, Chair, Borough Council Public Safety Committee

Upcoming Events

Thursday, May 13, 2010 – Presentation about the neighborhood watch program to the Union Athletic Association. For more information contact president Charles Bowes at 610-284-1433 or vice president Anthony Campuzano at 610-259-0543.

Fall 2010 (date TBD): Joint event at Lansdowne Fire Department Open House

Links of Interest

National Neighborhood Watch Institute

National Town Watch Association/National Night Out

Aldan Town Watch

Yeadon Town Watch

Delaware County Emergency Services

Lansdowne Fire Department

Lansdowne Police Department

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is a Crime Prevention program that involves citizens working with each other and with law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and victimization in their communities. It involves:

• Citizens protecting themselves and their property by using common sense crime prevention practices.
• Neighbors getting to know each other, watching out for each other and acting on or reporting suspicious activities.
• Citizens working with groups, community leaders, and more importantly, law enforcement agencies to make entire communities safe and free from crime.

NEIGHBORS LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

REMEMBER:

Criminals gravitate to places where they feel safe and secure. They avoid neighborhoods where they are likely to get caught. When they are neither wanted nor welcome, they go someplace else.

COMMUNITY WATCH SECURITY TIPS

1. MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK OCCUPIED: Leave some lights and a radio on when you are out.
2. LOCK YOUR DOORS: Never leave your house open for “just a moment,” always lock your doors when you are out.
3. USE DEADBOLT LOCKS: A deadbolt lock is a good deterrent to burglars.
4. DON’T HIDE A KEY OUTSIDE: Burglars know all the secret hiding places.
5. DRILL AND PIN YOUR WINDOWS: Window locks can be jimmied; pins cannot.
6. BRACE SLIDING GLASS DOORS: If the door is braced, the only way a burglar can get through it is to break it.
7. INSTALL GOOD EXTERIOR LIGHTING: Motion sensor lights and other good lights don’t let a burglar hide in the dark.
8. KEEP BUSHES AND SHRUBS TRIMMED: If bushes are too high, someone hiding near your windows and doors cannot be seen.
9. STOP MAIL AND PAPER DELIVERIES: If you go on vacation, stop deliveries or have one of your neighbors collect mail and papers.
10. GET A DOG: Even a small dog may be a deterrent to a burglar.
11. INSTALL AN ALARM SYSTEM: Houses with alarms are avoided by burglars.