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Neighborhood Watch is a community program sponsored by the Prince
William County Police Department. Watch members attend an initial
training session which covers topics such as home security, personal
safety, and crime reporting. They work closely with the Crime
Prevention Unit and their assigned officer to prevent crime in their
communities. Patrols can be conducted in a vehicle or walking and
are scheduled by participants for various hours and days of the
week. Most Neighborhood Watch participants have a patrol assigned
only every other month or so. Keep in mind—the higher the
participation is; the fewer the patrols each member must conduct.
Neighborhood Watches enjoy an increased feeling of community that
comes from looking out for one another, and participation in a
variety of neighborhood events. Bicycle rodeos, child seat checks,
and community cookouts are just a few of the types of activities the
Neighborhood Watches sponsor. In addition, many watches have
conducted training in citizen preparedness, self-defense, and
children’s safety. Prince William County Neighborhood Watches also
participate in National Night Out against crime every August,
bringing their neighbors together to show criminals they’re not
welcome here. Every Neighborhood Watch receives a monthly report of
the Police Calls for Service to their neighborhood, as well as
surrounding areas. This keeps members informed about what is going
on in their communities, and helps to identify any potential crime
trends. Neighborhood Watches in Prince William County are designated
by a blue sign that reads “Protected by Neighborhood Watch—Sponsored
by the Prince William County Police Department” and has a picture of
McGruff the Crime Dog.
Many Piedmont residents have expressed an interest in starting a
Neighborhood Watch in Piedmont. Please do your part to keep your
homes and families safe; join Neighborhood Watch. The first step is
to complete the Neighborhood Watch Survey form and return it to Patrick Heelen at the community center located at 14655 Piedmont Vista
Drive.
Please feel free to contact me at (703) 792-4676 or
eharman@pwcgov.org if you
have further questions about the Neighborhood Watch Program or other
crime prevention activities.
Officer Elaine S. Harman
Prince William County Police Department
Crime Prevention Unit
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Please read the following information and if you are interested in
joining the program please fill out the
Neighborhood Watch
Survey and
drop it off with Patrick Heelen at the Community Center.
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