Mt. Healthy Block Watch

Block Watch is a national program that is based on the principle that neighbors working together are the first and best line of defense against crime. 
 

What a Block Watch Is  What a Block Watch Is Not   Responsibilities & Duties

Download your own Block Watch Sign

Meetings are 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm in Council Chambers at City Hall.

New Block Watch Street Signs are being ordered for the city!
***Look for them soon!***

Committee Members:
Gary Wilhelm, Pres 
Steve Hunter, Vice Pres
Nancy Riehle, Secretary
Officer Paul Scott, founder 728-3183


What Block Watch Is
Block Watch is really just an extension of what you are probably already doing on an informal basis. We tend to know and watch out for our closest neighbors, but a group of neighbors at one end of the block who are doing this may not know the group of neighbors at the other end of the block. Organizing a Block Watch makes this attitude of watchfulness more systematic, and provides a block map with neighbors' names and telephone numbers that can be used in case of an emergency.

It takes two commitments
A commitment to be concerned about your neighbor's property as well as your own, and a commitment that when you see suspicious activity, you will take action by calling your neighbor or 9-1-1.

What Block Watch is Not
Block Watch doesn't require you to perform any special tasks, go to a lot of meetings, or take on extra responsibilities. You don't have to patrol the neighborhood, or chase burglars. Block Watch just involves being alert as a part of your everyday life. For example, when you go to the window to open or close the drapes, instead of just opening or closing them and turning away, you might stop for a second and glance around the neighborhood to be sure everything is okay. When you go out to get in the car to go to work, instead of heading for the car with "tunnel vision," glance up and check the neighborhood. It is this kind of "watching" that is involved.

Being a part of a Block Watch doesn't require you to live in your neighbor's hip pocket, or tell them every aspect of your business. You can still conduct your life in privacy. All it requires is that you and your neighbors be familiar enough with each other to know who belongs in the neighborhood and who doesn't; which cars are a part of the neighborhood and which aren't; and when something suspicious is going on. It doesn't require you to be any friendlier than you want to be.

Block Watch isn't only for home owners. One aspect of the program--upgrading home security--is more easily implemented if you own the home, since you would need to get the landlord's permission to make changes such as installing new locks. But the other two aspects--engraving an identification number on your property, and the Block Watch concept of neighbor watching out for neighbor--are just as important for renters as for home owners. 


Responsibilities and Duties

Neighborly responsibilities 
* Report all emergencies or suspicious activities to 9-1-1 immediately. 
* Call your Block Captain after you have reported to 9-1-1 when you: Have been burglarized, or Notice any suspicious activity. 
* Welcome new neighbors and invite them to join the block watch. 
* Periodically look out the window and respond to any suspicious activity, strangers or noises by calling 9-1-1. 
* Take your turn as block captain or Co-Captain. You can also volunteer to host your annual get together. 

Individual responsibilities 
* Engrave your property with your drivers license number.
* Fill out your inventory sheet. 
* Lock your doors and windows whenever you leave home, even if it is for a short time. 
* Update security by installing deadbolt locks on exterior doors and additional locks on vulnerable windows. 
* Use electric timers on lamps and radios. 
* Light up the front and back entryways at night, whether you are home or not! 
* Be sure your house address is visible from the street. 
* Keep tools and ladders in a locked storage shed or garage. 
* Have a trusted neighbor keep a duplicate house key. Do not hide it on the front or back porch. 



We encourage Block Watch members to get together at your convenience, on a formal or informal basis, to maintain acquaintance, update the block map, select a new Block Captain if necessary, and to get to know the new neighbors on the block.