Neighborhood Watch and Crime Prevention

Starting a Neighborhood watch can be a great way to interact with your residents and can also act as a marketing event as well. Here are a few tips that can help you have a successful meeting:

1.       Instead of calling it a neighborhood watch meeting you can hold a Crime Prevention Fair.

2.       Get to know your crime free specialist at your local police department. They will work closely with you and will offer fliers and safety tips for your event. You may even be able to get them to speak at your event and answer any questions your residents may have.

3.       Decide on a date for your event and then have one each month or each quarter depending on your circumstances.

4.       Be consistent and pick a topic each time and stick to it.

5.       Invite area business owners. If you are experiencing crime you can be assured that the rest of the neighborhood is as well.

6.       Purchase snacks and drinks or have it in the morning and see if your local donut shop will donate donuts. Invite them to the event and let them know it benefits them as well.

7.       Invite a representative from one of the security companies. Ask them to donate a gift basket for a raffle.

8.       Invite your competitors. This way you will let the other apartment communities in your area know that you are open to working together. This will pave the way for a future relationship and referrals.

9.      Pick block captains for each building. Make sure to write down their phone numbers and encourage neighbors to exchange numbers as well. This way they will keep an eye out for each other.

10.    Order plenty of business cards and promotional gifts to hand out.  Whistles are a great safety product. Make sure to order them with your logo on them.

11.    Exchange email addresses with the local business owners and Apartment Managers so that you can keep each other abreast of any incidents in your community.

12.    Get the kids involved. Invite the police to provide ID’s for the kids and teach stranger danger and tips for safely walking home from school or bike safety.

Crime prevention and safety are very serious subjects but you can make your event fun. It will leave everyone talking about what a great time they had and how much valuable information they received. Everyone involved will want to attend each and every time!