Rural neighborhood watch

[Prismseed]

In the past five years things have gone downhill. More neighbors on my road have been robbed than haven't been.

I just got fed up when someone stole scrap from an old codger living hand to mouth off retirement and scrap metal sales. Going to start talking to the neighbors about setting up a neighborhood watch for our backroads.

So far only thought come to mind is keeping an eye on who goes down the road, taking down model/tag/color of strange vehicles. Most folks know whose cars are their neighbors.

Would really appreciate some help and advice on this.

[Darren]

Around here it is the neighbors that are stealing.

[switchman62]

That's a rough one. I personally don't want anybody but me watching my place. I can see how, depending on area, neighbors, etc some might like the idea of neighbors watching each others place. Hope you get it worked out, also you might think about a cheap camara set-up.

Dave

[Txrider]

Originally Posted by Prismseed

In the past five years things have gone downhill. More neighbors on my road have been robbed than haven't been.

I just got fed up when someone stole scrap from an old codger living hand to mouth off retirement and scrap metal sales. Going to start talking to the neighbors about setting up a neighborhood watch for our backroads.

So far only thought come to mind is keeping an eye on who goes down the road, taking down model/tag/color of strange vehicles. Most folks know whose cars are their neighbors.

Would really appreciate some help and advice on this.

If your on a dead end road why not put up a game cam on the road that'll get everyone coming and going on picture... If ya do it well enough you'll get a face, license plate, and be able to at least go after someone who does it next time.

I have good neighbors so far, they do watch everyone's place to a degree. They all came over when I bought my place to meet the new owner, and questioned my brother in law when was out there and I wasn't..

I have given my number to some of them, and told them if they see someone strange don't hesitate to call the sheriff, or go ask why they there are and what they are doing. If they can't spit out my name on the spot, they don't belong there.

I think most law enforcement orgs can send someone out to explain how to set up a neighborhood watch, and maybe help ya get it going a bit. At least give advice on what to tell folks to do etc. Might want to call the local or county law and ask about it.

[solidwoods]

Maybe quite a few "Neighborhood Watch" signs. I'd put up a bunch. Maybe a sign with it that says video images are being taken also (whether they are or aren't).
jim

[Beeman]

If it's that bad what have the neighbors been doing so far? We've got a similar problem here but I don't sneak around I go right out to the road and put the stink eye on them. We have a real problem in this country with personal confrontation. After watching what will happen next?

[Shadow]

The neighborhood we live in started one about 2 years ago. Each member bought signs magnetic one that stick to the sides of their vehicles, each patrol once a month just watching for odd acting people. So far we have busted two drug dealers, a couple of burglars, The word has gotten around and its getting results. Crime is way down and the community has gotten closer to gether. We do not make direct contact with suspicious actting people, descriptions of people and vehicles along with tag numbers is enough for the sheriff. Some of the people that live in the neighborhood do not like to be watched and have complained, one was in a grave yard at 2 in the morning blocked me and the wifes vehicle and got in my face yelling he had the right to be anywhere anytime he yelled untill the sheriff deputy pulled up. Me and the deputy smelled the whacky weed he searched his truck and he will be out of the grave yard for three to five.
Most people appreciate it the ones that don't usually have something to hide. Three oif the five that complained the loudest have arrested for various things and have moved out of the area.
Signs are great and if you dont have gas to drive around just park with the signs on the vehicle and take numbers and descriptions. Check with your sheriffs office they will be glad to help. All but two households in our area have loaded guns they carry. Its up to the bad guys to guess which two are not armed. No one is that lucky. David

[Parttimefarmer]

My dad is installing one of these at the end of the drive for me:

http://www.farmcameras.com/licensepl...oncamera.shtml

I suppose you could use it to monitor the road too.

[Shrek]

We have many in our area who are reserve officers with the county S.O. and nearby city P.D.s

Between them and neighbors who know them there is most always a watcher or three driving by a few times an hour in addition to the normal S.O. patrols.

[TnAndy]

Originally Posted by Parttimefarmer

My dad is installing one of these at the end of the drive for me:

http://www.farmcameras.com/licensepl...oncamera.shtml

I suppose you could use it to monitor the road too.

Awesome website....thanks !

Right now, I use a Dakota Alert system ( MURS radio frequency ), and a game camera right at the gate.

[meanwhile]

We tried to set one up about 8 years ago. Same thing - several break-ins and vadalism. We did get it going, Sheriff's Dept came out......had a few meetings but then......the fussing started in. A few neighbors did not want to pay money to hang up signs, no one could agree on what "to do", another woman was arrested for an un-related event but people wanted to "kick her out" - it just all fell apart.

What we did was to back up and just "organize" for those of us who live right close by. There are only 6 or 7 of us and we just watch out and call each other at any sign of a strange car/truck. We collect each other's mail, feed each others dogs when out of town, just ride by and check on places when we think we see strange cars. If we see anyone stopped on the side of the road.....we stop and ask them what they are doing no matter how "nice" they look.......

A few times a year we do ask the local Sheriff's to have "drive by" checks and that creates a "presence" of Law Enforcement.

Good luck -

[mekasmom]

I would keep some big dogs for myself. You might not be able to help all the neighbors, but the dogs would protect your property just by their barking and warning of intruders.

[Parttimefarmer]

Originally Posted by TnAndy

Awesome website....thanks !

Right now, I use a Dakota Alert system ( MURS radio frequency ), and a game camera right at the gate.

You are welcome! We came to the farm one day (it had been empty) to find picnic trash in front of the house. None of the garbage was ripped or dirty, the food still smelled good, so I guess someone stopped by and ate rather than an animal brought it. Security seemed very important after that.

[How Do I]

Originally Posted by Darren

Around here it is the neighbors that are stealing.

I was going to say...I wouldn't want my neighbor watching my place. More than he already does, that is.

[demeter]

A paranoid neighbor on the one side of us watches us all the time. Binoculars and all. He dove behind a tree thinking I didn't notice not long ago. But he was fatter than the tree and pretty hard to miss.

Demeter

[Roadking]

We have a neighborhood crime watch, with high visability (if you are in the area for more than 10 minutes...magnetic signs on the vehicles). Most are Volunteer firefighters, business owners, retired NYPD that settled here, etc.
So far, that I can recal, responsible for two robberies. Well, that's it. Our little corner has very few issues. Out and around, different story.
I think the high visability of the vehicles (sometimes into the early morning hours driving around), has an effect.
1) They have radios. They only call in suspicious activity and keep watch.
2) All volunteer. Pride in their hometown. That's about it.
3) They seem to know everyone (a tad disconcerting at first, until we got to know them...one time, a "Watch vehicle" pulled into the driveway and the guy got out and asked if he could see our garden...which is known around here. He was amazed at the soil and asked permission to "put my hand into the soil"...
Um...Sure...He couldn't have been more amazed and started asking how he could do it to. Since then, a toot and a wave, shared bounty, and the occassional "Watch" vehicle patrol on double duty when the scanner kicks in.
Folks have to want it and want to do it to be effective.
Matt