NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH PROGRAM
The River Forest area started the Neighborhood Watch program many years ago. Our residental area is fortunate to have a very low crime rate. Police who have visited our Neighborhood Watch meeting have told us that we are located in a pocket in the area that is very low statistically in all types of crime, fortunately due to our program. We hold the Neighborhood Crime Watch informational meetings in conjunction with the "Meet Your Neighbor Day". We report trends and recent events to be aware of at these bi-annual meetings. Once a year we have the police officers on hand to share more detailed information on our specific area. Below you can read some addtional information on how you can become involved as well as some crime watch security tips for your home.
JOIN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: PREVENT BURGLARIES
by Michael Organ and Beth Hering
Neighborhood Watch groups are a smart way to help protect the safety of your community.
According to the FBI, over 2 million incidents of burglary were committed in 2009. A burglary takes place in the U.S. every 14.6 seconds, according to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program Crime Clock. And burglary is not a crime limited to night-time. In fact, the Burglary Prevention Council reports that more than 60 percent of all residential burglaries occurred during daylight hours. While these statistics are alarming, they remind us of the ever-growing impact of crime in the United States -- and that no matter where you reside, you are a potential victim.
Not everyone can afford subscription-based home security systems that provide 24-hour monitoring. Local policing efforts are often stretched too thin for routine patrols and must rely on the active participation of community residents for crime prevention.
Since most crimes happen in isolation, a Neighborhood Watch team is employed to act as an extra set of "eyes and ears" when a police presence is not always available. But a Neighborhood Watch group does more than canvass its community. In most cases, involvement creates opportunity to get to know those living in your geographical area, helping to open the lines of communication with local police and better overall cooperation among residents in crime prevention efforts. Participating in a Neighborhood Watch group builds confidence and encourages residents to take an active interest in one another's properties and livelihoods.
10 Quick Security Tips
- Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. An open window or door is an open invitation for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot weak locks that may be easily forced open. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one inch throw and reinforced strike plate with three inch screws. All windows should have window locks.
- Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track and install vertical bolts. These will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.
- Always lock the door to an attached garage. Don't rely on your automatic garage door opener for security.
- Create the illusion that you are home. by using timers on lights, radios and TV's. Making your residence appear occupied, even when no one is home, will deter criminals.
- Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a cost-effective way to discourage intruders, as well as highlight a house.
- Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so delivered items do not accumulate. You can also ask a neighbor to park in your driveway or parking place to make it appear that you are present.
- Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal, everyday appearance in your residence.
- Never leave a message on your telephone answering machine telling people that you are away from home. A message that you will return at a certain time leaves your home vulnerable in the interim.
- Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. While large, ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door.
- Organize a community watch program to protect your neighborhood. An alert community is a safe community.
From: http://www.burglaryprevention.org/10%20Quick%20Security%20Tips.aspx
**New**
Uniform Crime Reports & Online Crime Mapping
Map Crime
As a service to the public, JSO provides crime incident information with a mapping program. With prompting from the user, the information provided will show the number of police reports written for selected crimes, within a selected geographical area, or specific address or location. The type of crime and number of offenses will be presented in a table format, with insightful demographic information, such as the time of day the crime occurred. This information is not intended to serve as official crime data.
Mapping service link: Sheriffs Office Crime Map Link
You can get involved by volunteering to be a Block Captian or coordinator. It only takes a very small amount of time two times a year. See the contact us page for the River Forest Coordinator information. Help to keep your street, neighborhood and community safe. One person can make a difference!
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