Emergency Preparedness & Public Safety By NEIL KENNEDY
Join Charbonneau ’ s Neighborhood Watch – A safer community starts with you KENNEDY
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Charbonneau ’ s Neighborhood Watch is more than just a crime
prevention program — it ’ s an opportunity for residents to come together and make a direct , positive impact on the safety and security
of our community . By promoting awareness , fostering neighborly bonds and encouraging vigilance , our Neighborhood Watch initiative aims to create a safer , stronger neighborhood for all .
The program works by empowering residents to be the eyes and ears of the community . It teaches simple yet effective strategies for identifying and
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reporting suspicious activity while also helping to deter crime before it even occurs . The initiative is designed to be a collaborative effort , partnering with the Clackamas County Sheriff ’ s Office to ensure our community has the support it needs to stay safe and secure .
Why Neighborhood Watch matters
Crime prevention is about more than just reacting to incidents — it ’ s about creating a community culture where crime is less likely to thrive . By participating in the Neighborhood Watch , residents actively reduce opportunities for criminal activity , which makes Charbonneau a less appealing target for crime . The program focuses on being proactive rather than reactive and its success hinges on the involvement of residents like you .
In fact , studies have shown that when communities are engaged in watch programs , criminal activity tends to decrease because criminals are less likely to target areas where people are actively observing and reporting suspicious behavior . This is the core principle behind Charbonneau ’ s Neighborhood Watch : reduce the opportunity for crime rather than trying to change the behavior of criminals themselves .
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How does Neighborhood Watch work ?
Neighborhood Watch works through a simple but effective framework that creates multiple layers of defense to deter crime . These layers are designed to involve both the physical environment and the active participation of residents .
1 . Street-level awareness
One of the first steps in establishing a Neighborhood Watch is putting up street signs throughout the community . These signs serve as a visible reminder to everyone , both residents and potential criminals , that the area is actively being monitored . This simple gesture is a powerful deterrent because it signals that neighbors are looking out for each other , making the neighborhood less attractive for criminal activity . Most , if not all of our HOAs , have taken this step .
2 . Home-level deterrence
This has many layers . The more layers you add , the less desirable your home is to bad guys . Having appropriate door and window locks and consistently using them , will be your best insurance . Alarm systems , cameras and smart garage doors take deterrence to another level . Small
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yard signs or window decals advising that you use cameras or an alarm are a small effort , but it could make a big difference in the safety of your home and the neighborhood . Lighting your property is a huge deterrent as bad guys do not want to be seen .
3 . Participant-level action
The most important layer of defense in any Neighborhood Watch program is the active involvement of its participants . If you notice suspicious behavior or see a crime in progress , you must report it immediately to the authorities by calling 911 . If you are a walker , have your phone with you so that you can report issues in real time and not wait until you get home . When making the report , be sure to describe the behaviors of the person that make it suspicious , i . e . what they are doing that is not normal . Neighborhood Watch is not about confronting criminals directly — it ’ s about being alert and passing information to law enforcement . When neighbors report incidents promptly , it increases the chances that the suspect will be apprehended , making the community safer for everyone .
See EPPS / A18
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