Police

"Neighborhood Watch" was developed in 1972 by the National Sheriff's Association in response to citizens requests for a program to stem burglaries in the United States . The concept evolved from the experiences of local citizens in helping law enforcement fight crime by being more observant and reporting to authorities. Changes in people's lifestyles made neighborhoods less secure and more vulnerable to crime. There were more cases of both the husband and the wife working, transience resulting from job transfers, mobility and freedom provided by the automobile, and popularity of apartment living. In the latter situation, people actually became strangers in their own neighborhoods.

The Ruston Police Department has been active with the Neighborhood Watch program for several years, involving quite a few neighborhoods in our community with the program. Neighborhood Watch involves neighbors getting to know each other and working in a program of mutual assistance. It involves citizens being trained to recognize and report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.

When a Neighborhood Watch program is started in our community, the Ruston Police Department will provide a regular report on crime in the neighborhood. It will provide information on crime trends that may affect the neighborhood. When possible, it will provide the watch group with handout and other resource materials relating to neighborhood watch and crime. When possible, the Ruston Police will provide a general crime awareness presentation to the Watch group. And it will provide training to residents so they can assess their own security strengths and weaknesses, and then take appropriate measures.

Anyone interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch program in the Ruston community should contact the Ruston Police Department.

Things you can do to protect your home and valuables

The alarming increase in crime in America in recent years appears to be leveling off. A large part of the credit for this encouraging trend is given to an effective idea which is available to citizens nationwide: the National Neighborhood Watch Program.

Because crime is a major concern of all of our citizens and their law enforcement agencies, people everywhere have looked for ways to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors. Since 1988, the number of burglaries has dropped 7% - encouraging news.

Responding to the requests of hundreds of local law enforcement agencies for assistance in developing crime prevention programs based on citizen participation, the National Sheriff's Association organized the National Neighborhood Watch Program, which it has sponsored and promoted since 1972.

National Neighborhood Watch is a program designed to help individual citizens help themselves and their neighbors to prevent crime. Neighborhood Watch focuses on the prevention of residential burglary. Here's why:

The nearly three million burglaries committed in the United States in 1992 account for 21% of the reported serious crime. About 66% of all burglaries, or approximately two million, are committed in houses and apartments.

Burglary is not just a big city crime. Burglary is expensive to the victim; in 1992 the average dollar loss per residential burglary was $1,215.00. It is a dangerous crime; a burglar confronted in your home could be a dangerous person.

About 69% of all burglaries required forcing a door or window to gain entry. Most houses and apartments are protected by simple and ineffective door and window locks. Modern hardware is available for door and windows locks which will stop the amateur and slow up the experienced burglar.

Adults were involved in 80% of all burglary offenses cleared during 1992. The highest degree of juvenile involvement in burglary was recorded in small cities. In communities of every size during 1992, the number of burglaries and the financial loss to the victims point up the need for even greater vigilance.

Sound residential security practices and good locks are a deterrent since they eliminate the opportunity for an easy burglary.

Delaying a burglar for four minutes is generally considered sufficient to prevent entry into a house or apartment. A burglar wants to avoid being caught, so the longer it takes to force a door or window the greater his risk. The burglar wants to avoid making noise - like breaking glass or smashing doors - and he want to avoid attracting attention. It is nearly impossible to make a house or apartment impregnable - but it is relatively easy and inexpensive to make forced entry difficult and to delay the burglar.

Finally, the fear of detection is the third element of burglary prevention.

The possibility of detection is increased if you can delay a burglar, if you can force him to work where he can be observed, and if he will have to make noise or attract attention. Alarms on doors and windows are the surest way to detect a burglar, but watchful neighbors alert to unusual activity who will notify law enforcement authorities are an effective means of detection.

Keeping in mind the principles of deterrence, delay and detection, you can take positive steps to decrease the likelihood that your house or apartment will be burglarized. Take time to conduct your own security check. Take time to put your house in order. Then talk to your neighbors about how you can help each other keep your entire neighborhood safe.

If you want advice or assistance for your own house or for your neighborhood, your local law enforcement agency is ready to help.

You don't have to be one of the two million residential burglary victims and neither do your neighbors. Remember - crime prevention begins at home.