Ervin Davis CRIME WATCH Manual

Crime Watch Manual - Page Three

The Ervin Davis Crime Watch Manual ----- Page # 3

Starting a Neighborhood
Crime Watch

REPORTING CRIME


Crime Watch Manual : starting a neighborhood watch, <h5>(part three)</h5>



REPORTING CRIME


"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is
for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke (1729-1797)


Understanding Crime

The first step towards preventing crime is understanding its nature.

  • Most crime is not done by professionals, nor is it carefully planned.
      * -- Police estimate 80% of home burglaries are NOT
      done by professionals but by opportunists.
      * -- Police estimate 30% of homes are NOT locked
      or have an unlocked window with a screen or standing open !
    • Most car crimes result from easy opportunity.
      * -- Police estimate 25% of vehicles are NOT even locked !
    • Most crime is against property, not people.
      • Keep home doors, garage door and
        windows shut and LOCKED !
      • Property theft and vandalism crimes :
        • Thrives on opportunity, so lock out crime.
        • Crime is usually committed by
            adolescents and young men.
          • Peak ages for property offenders are
            generally between the ages
            of 14 to 19 years of age.

Crime Watch v.s. Crime

Neighborhood Crime Watch reduces the easy commission of crime by asking neighbors to know each other and watch out for each other.
Then once that phase is adequately launched you can begin considering various alternate strategic approach paths towards addressing your specific crime category problems,.....and take bites out of crime,..... one by one.

What Should be Observed
for and Reported to Police

"Just the facts Mam, just the facts !"

Who, What, When, Where ?


  • WHAT happened ?

      • Describe WHAT was the crime that occured.
      • Describe WHERE it occurred.
      • Describe WHO or what it happened to.
      • Describe WHEN it happened.

  • Was anyone HURT ?

    • How BADLY was the injury ?

  • WHO did it ?

    • Describe the known PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS of suspect(s).
      • -- HEIGTH
      • -- WEIGHT
      • -- AGE of suspect
      • -- SEX : Male -or- Female
      • -- RACE of suspect
      • -- Unusual VOICE characteristics ?

  • How did the crime suspects ARRIVE or LEAVE ?

      • Describe the VEHICLE :
      • -- Color of vehicle
      • -- License number
      • -- Make -- ( Chevy, Ford ?) -- ( If known )
      • -- Model -- ( Impala, Firerbird ) -- ( If known )
      • -- How many people in the vehicle ?
      • -- Direction of travel when leaving scene.


Reporting Crime

    Reporting crime is everyone’s business, NOT just the responsibility of Crime Watch or its identifiable supporters.

  • Police estimate only about 50 % of all crimes are ever reported.
  • This is unfortunate, because Police NEED to know
    what's happening,........ and by whom.
    • And YOU NEED the Police to know,... so they can help.
  • Even an anonymous tip is better than no report at all.
  • Sometimes people don't want to risk embarrassment to call
    the police because they feel it may not be a real emergency .
    • Police would much rather be called to investigate BEFORE
      a crime is committed than to be called AFTER a crime has
      been completed and arrive AFTER the criminal fled the scene.
  • The effectiveness of crime prevention efforts of any Neighborhood
    Crime Watch and by its law enforcement department is greatly
    improved by citizens immediately reporting anything suspicious.
    • Quick crime reporting allows Police essential time to get
      to the scene to interrupt the crime,........ by arriving at the
      crime scene BEFORE the criminals leave, so it's very
      essential that Police be called immediately as soon as
      suspicious activity is seen or heard.

      • Keep in mind that if the criminal escapes,
        he might be BACK !
          • And if the criminal does return,
            next time it might be YOUR TURN !

  • Don't ever think : "That is someone else’s problem, not mine".
        • Don't be stupid, ......CALL the POLICE !

911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911.........911
THINK about WHAT could happen if YOU
do NOT DO something IMMEADIATLY
911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911..........911.........911

  • Don't take it for granted that : "Someone else probably called
    the Police", ............ YOU CALL the Police !
  • CALL Police immediately when you note something suspicious.
  • Don't EVER think crime problems won't happen to your family.
  • Get involved, and collect the 'gutts' to CALL the Police !
  • Remember, thieves like to return where no one calls the Police.
  • Realize that if you do NOT call the Police, then sooner or later
    it will become "YOUR TURN" to get ripped off next ......
    .......and then WHO you gonna turn to for help !"
  • Remember our Morningside CRIME WATCH motto :
    "YOU only get out of something what YOU put into it !"

      "Burglars and thieves love to return to
      'easy picking' neighborhoods where the
      dummies won't or don't call the Cops !"

  • Please don't let your neighborhood decay like that.


    Double-click on arrow for more Crime Watch Manual pages


    Crime Prevention Library
    Laws of Indiana
    Sex Offenders ~ Search
    Criminal History Search
    Muncie Information
    Morningside CRIME WATCH
    Indiana Law Enforcement Agencies
    Police Magazine
    KIDs DAY 1997
    KIDs DAY 1998





    Technical Editor

    Kimberly Davis


    Author and Publisher

    Ervin Davis
    Crime Watch Coordinator
    Morningside CRIME WATCH
    Muncie, Indiana 47303-1364
    E-Mail : morningsidecw@aol.com



    Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
    ©
    All rights reserved



    This document began 6 June 1998, published 8 November 1998 and occationally up-dated.

    WebMaster : Ervin Davis


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