Neighborhood watch is designed to help reduce crime in residential area's. Talking with your neighbors and working with local law enforcement to take a bite out of crime.

On your next visit to the Rec Center take a minute and read some of the Neighborhood Watch material to stay informed on how to better keep your neighborhood safe. We keep Neighborhood Watch information in the clear pamplet holder next to the bulletin board at the Rec Center.

Important Numbers:

Emergency: 911

Non-Emergency: 377-6790

BPD-Neighborhood Watch: 377-6676

Local contact numbers

Neighborhood watch Fall and Winter newsletter.

The Boise Bark

If you don't know who your block captain is, contact "Kristin Campos" at (208) 395-1793 for more information.

If you see any suspicious activity or have any damage to your home or property, please call the Boise Police Department at (208) 377-6790 immediately to file a report. Do not call the Rec Center office. You need to file a report so that the Police can keep track of criminal activity in the area.

NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME BULLETIN AND BURGLARY INFORMATION

The November 15, 2008 Neighborhood Crime Bulletins are available on www.boisepolice.org website. Look at the right side bar under Ask-A-Cop and click on Neighborhood Crime Bulletin. That will give you a list of the 10 areas and you can click on any of them to view the bulletins.

Also, there appears to be an increase in residential and vehicle burglaries throughout Boise. I've been asked by citizens what they can do, so here are suggestions:

1) Take security precautions for your home and vehicle: installing and using good quality deadbolt locks on all your outside doors, securing your windows, having your outside lights on using motion sensor or photo cell attachments, closing your blinds/drapes at night, keeping your garage doors shut, locking your vehicle and removing the property from it.

2) If you are going to be away from your home for one or more nights: install one or more automatic timers to lights, a radio, or TV, to come on in the evening, and then again in the morning. You want to simulate your normal lifestyle and make your home appear lived-in. Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway, to bring out one of your trash cans on the pick up day, to pick up your mail and newspaper, and to check your front porch for flyers left there.

3) Know your neighbors and help watch out for each others property. If you get up during the night, look out a window for suspicious or criminal activity. Call police at 377-6790 or 911 if you need them to respond. Give the dispatcher as much information as you can about what you are observing.

4) If you want a security assessment of your home, call me at 577-3851 to arrange an appointment. There is no cost; it takes a half hour depending on the size of the home; I look at doors/locks, windows, lighting, landscaping, entrances to the property, etc., and discuss my findings with the resident.

5) Have an active Neighborhood Watch that uses a communication system to quickly connect with the neighbors so everyone knows what is going on in your area, how to take preventative measures, and any suspect information.

Thank you,

Charlene Miller, Crime Prevention Unit