Neighborhood Crime Watches
Neighbors Unite to Prevent and Reduce Crime in Estrella
2015
Social media lights up whenever criminals attempt to target the Estrella area. We live in a growing city and that means growing challenges. The good news is that Estrella residents have a way of watching out for each other to reduce - and even prevent crime.
Goodyear’s Neighborhood Crime Watch program is meant to help residents just like us.
Seven years ago, our community made this program, then called “Block Watch”, a goal for each and every neighborhood. It was wildly popular and widely discussed, but less than 10% of the neighborhoods got involved.
After a recent rash of home and vehicle break-ins, Arroyo Vista became the third neighborhood in Estrella to kickstart an active watch program. They join La Mirada and Serenity neighborhoods. “Overall, EMR is one of the communities within Goodyear that tends to operate like one big “block watch.” It has that “small town feel,” as many neighbors and business owners know one another,” says Lisa Kutis, Public Information Officer with the Goodyear Police Department. Goodyear has a total of 20 neighborhoods participating in watch programs.
Goodyear’s Neighborhood Crime Watch program is meant to help residents just like us.
Seven years ago, our community made this program, then called “Block Watch”, a goal for each and every neighborhood. It was wildly popular and widely discussed, but less than 10% of the neighborhoods got involved.
After a recent rash of home and vehicle break-ins, Arroyo Vista became the third neighborhood in Estrella to kickstart an active watch program. They join La Mirada and Serenity neighborhoods. “Overall, EMR is one of the communities within Goodyear that tends to operate like one big “block watch.” It has that “small town feel,” as many neighbors and business owners know one another,” says Lisa Kutis, Public Information Officer with the Goodyear Police Department. Goodyear has a total of 20 neighborhoods participating in watch programs.
“REMEMBER: Community members only serve as the extra “eyes and ears” of law enforcement. They should report their observations of suspicious activities to law enforcement; however, citizens should never try to take action on those observations. Trained law enforcement should be the only ones ever to take action based on observations of suspicious activities,” USAonWatch - National Neighborhood Watch Program
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One of the benefits of having a neighborhood crime watch is the one-on-one communication with our local law enforcement. Kutis says, “Often, the Community Services Officer is the first point of contact for block watch residents to turn to with non-emergency related items. The residents themselves build better relationships and trust with law enforcement when they get to know their Community Services Officers.”
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Arroyo Vista Neighborhood Crime Watch
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Steps to start a crime watch program in your Goodyear neighborhood
1. As neighbors, talk about the interest level in bringing back an active neighborhood crime watch.
2. Contact the Goodyear Police Department. We were put in touch with Officer Nottingham who met with a handful of us to talk about the do's and don'ts of the program.
3. Contact your local residents club to reserve a meeting room and scheduled a date and time we thought would work for most neighbors.
4. The coordinating residents met several times to set an agenda and prepare a PowerPoint presentation.
5. Access a resident email list and establish a private Facebook group page to keep neighbors informed.
6. We met and had a successful meeting. A Goodyear Police officer was our guest speaker. We also explained the benefit of using Community Crime Map as a crime tracking tool.
2. Contact the Goodyear Police Department. We were put in touch with Officer Nottingham who met with a handful of us to talk about the do's and don'ts of the program.
3. Contact your local residents club to reserve a meeting room and scheduled a date and time we thought would work for most neighbors.
4. The coordinating residents met several times to set an agenda and prepare a PowerPoint presentation.
5. Access a resident email list and establish a private Facebook group page to keep neighbors informed.
6. We met and had a successful meeting. A Goodyear Police officer was our guest speaker. We also explained the benefit of using Community Crime Map as a crime tracking tool.
CRIME WATCH PROGRAMS BY CITY
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Click here for Avondale
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Click here for Buckeye
View safety tips for residents |
Click here for Glendale
Go to "Prevention and Education" |
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Click here for Goodyear
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Click here for Litchfield Park
Litchield Park has police services provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office |
Click here for Peoria
Go to "Crime Prevention" |
Click here for Tolleson
Tolleson has information about Block Watch and participates in G.A.I.N.
Tolleson has information about Block Watch and participates in G.A.I.N.
USAonWatch
Website
Website
COMMUNITY CRIME MAP
Website
How to use
Website
- Connects law enforcement with the community to reduce crime and improve public safety
- It's FREE for cities to participate
- 25+ Arizona cities and Maricopa County participate
- Goodyear started reporting to this site in July 2014
How to use
- Enter your address
- Go to "EVENT" and select "ALL"
- Go to "DATE RANGE" and select the time frame you want to see