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Just like Neighborhood Watch, members of
an Apartment Watch learn how to make their homes more secure, watch out for
each other and their community, and report crime and suspicious activities
to the police. Here are some ways to get an Apartment Watch going and
growing.
- Help arrange with local police for apartment
security surveys and Operation Identification.
- Organize citizen patrols to walk around the
apartment complex and alert police to crime and suspicious activities.
Don't forget to patrol parking lots, stairways, laundry rooms, and
playgrounds.
- Publish a newsletter that gives local crime news,
recognizes Apartment Watch captains, and highlights community activities.
- Organize a reception in the lobby of your building
or a cookout on common property so neighbors can get to know one another.
- Keep pressure on management to make sure it
provides adequate security.
- Start a Safe Haven Program for children -- places
where they can go in emergency or scary situations.
- Check the complex on a regular basis for problems
such as burned-out light bulbs, dark corridors, uncollected trash, or
broken locks on mailboxes and doors. Report problems to the building
manager.
- Organize meetings to brainstorm how you can help
each other, such as starting an escort service for the elderly or
after-school care for children.
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Crime Prevention Tips
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