This country has 75 million people who could easily become extra eyes and ears for local law enforcement in the fight against crime. These are the people who are out at all hours of the day and night, in all types of weather, walking their dogs.
Here's a little dog from Cologne, Germany ready to do his part in a crime watch. (Photo by Brian Snelson)
Dog Walker Watch
Just think of the crime prevention impact resulting from alerts by hundreds of people who know their neighborhood, notice when something doesn’t look right, and are trained to provide first responders with the information needed to react quickly and safely to the report.
This little guy popped up on the National Night out Facebook Page.
The National Association of Town Watch (the same people who sponsor the National Night Out event each year) has now organized a training program for crime prevention called Dog Walker Watch.
You and Your Dog Can Be Great Neighbors
Walk your dog along a familiar route and I’ll bet you notice a lot of little things that those engaged in other activities along the same path might overlook. You know the places where problems with drainage create standing pools of water on sidewalks and at intersections every time we have a heavy rain. You notice the trash cans that are always filled to overflowing. If a walk light doesn’t work or is missing, you spot it.
The Chicago Tribune interviewed Officer Adam Tabor from Morton Grove, a community that has implemented the program. “It's something we think is worth it, because there is so little effort from both the citizen standpoint and the law enforcement standpoint,” he explained.
The National Association of Town Watch provides materials for a training program that takes about 45 minutes. Tabor said, "Now, we can teach them to become more aware and less hesitant to report suspicious activity … so they become our extra eyes and ears in their neighborhood."
Training points out things to watch for like open gates or doors that are normally shut. It also teaches people what information to collect, how to report what they see, and to not get personally involved if they notice suspicious activity.
Here's Riley ready to give his professional skills to the training program. (Photo by Scott Miller)
Lets hope Boston and the surrounding communities opt to organize Dog Walker Watch programs. Contact your neighborhood association. They may already have a committee in place that can help organize a local group. Call Community Policing for your district and ask if there is an existing Neighborhood Watch Program that might expand to include this concept.
An Unoffical Start
Even without an official program, you can still call 9-1-1 and report what you see. Be as specific as possible.
- Give a street address or the nearest intersection.
- If you can get a license plate for something car related, try to do so. Even a partial plate, the make, model, and color of the car can be of great help to the police.
- Note and report the direction of flight if you saw someone leave a suspected crime scene.
- Notice what someone you suspect of wrongdoing is wearing.
- The person’s height, size, and description of clothing are what will be called out to responders.
- Stay on the line with the call-taker if asked to do so.
- Give your name and number so the responding officer can connect with you if needed.
- Don’t become physically involved.
- Call back to cancel the response if the situation changes.
- Here is much more detailed information on how to report a suspected crime.
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.
Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon
Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: As credited under each photo used under creative commons license.