What is Neighborhood Crime Watch?
Neighborhood Crime Watch (NCW) is a partnership between residents and law enforcement to improve safety and prevent crime. What you can learn with NCW:
- Who your neighbors are and how to work with them
- How to use a neighborhood map and roster to communicate
- How and why crime happens
- How to improve home security and personal safety
- How to recognize and report suspicious activity
- Active NCW groups with visible NCW signs can deter crime
Who Can Participate?
Anyone who lives in Fremont can participate in NCW. You may live in an apartment or condominium complex, a townhouse or a single family home.
I'm Interested, What are the next steps?
- Read the information below and/or print the Introduction to Neighborhood Crime Watch Information Sheet.
- Contact the neighbors; find out the best time to attend a meeting (typically a weekday evening about 6:30 or 7:00 PM).
- Schedule the meeting. Call the Police Department NCW contact person:
- For addresses South of Stevenson Blvd
Karen Blount, Community Engagement Specialist - 510/790-6689
Email: kblount@fremont.gov
- For Addresses North of Stevenson Blvd
Martha Matthiesen, Community Engagement Specialist - 510/790-6979
Email: mmatthiesen@fremont.gov
- Distribute flyers inviting neighbors to the NCW meeting about 7 to 10 days before the meeting. PD can supply flyers.
- On the day of the meeting, give your friends a reminder call or flyer to remind them.
Note: Neighborhood crime watch meetings can be scheduled September through May.
What happens at the Meeting?
A Police representative will discuss:
- Crime in Fremont and your area
- How and when to contact the police
- NCW program requirements, and how and why it works
- What you can do to make your home more safe and secure
- What other neighborhoods are doing
What are the NCW Requirements?
- Schedule and have a NCW meeting
- Complete a roster of members' names, addresses and telephone numbers
- Complete a neighborhood map
- Select a Block Captain and an Alternate for the group
- Decide how many signs you want and where the signs should be installed
- Bring a copy of the completed map, roster and funds to purchase the sign(s) to the police department.
- The group must meet at least once a year, and maintain a current map and roster.
What is a Block Captain?
The Block Captain and the Alternate are liaisons between the NCW group and the police department. They make sure the map and the roster are complete and the NCW signs are purchased and installed. They also schedule NCW meetings at least once a year, maintain a current membership roster and map, and distribute Crime Alert Bulletins when provided by the police department. Many groups rotate the Block Captain and Alternate responsibilities.
What about the NCW signs?
Every official NCW group must have at least one NCW sign. The NCW sign acts as a crime deterrent by notifying people who enter the area that the neighborhood is watching and knows how to contact the police.
Communication and Meeting Topics?
In addition to the telephone rosters and flyers, Email and fax rosters, websites and newsletters have been used by NCW groups to communicate. While some groups have formal meetings, others prefer to be more relaxed with barbecues and block parties. However they communicate, most groups focus on safety and crime prevention. The police department is a resource that offers brochures and videos on topics such as:
- Personal Safety and Crime Awareness
- Child, Teen or Senior Safety
- Halloween, Summer or Holiday Safety
- Scams or Fraud Schemes
To obtain brochures call the Community Engagement at (510) 790-6740.
What other Groups are doing?
Some NCW groups are actively involved in community issues such as:
- Neighborhood Beautification
- Traffic Safety
- Activities for Youth
- Emergency Preparedness (C.E.R.T.)
The City of Fremont has Community Engagement Specialists who help community groups and leaders organize to solve problems and improve their neighborhoods.
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