Keeping Tabs On Your Street With Block Watch | Crime

Neighbors of Chief Garry Park are some of the latest concerned citizens taking action to protect their homes. After a concentration of burglaries started popping up on police reports, neighbors are hoping to take care of the problem by forming a block watch to keep tabs on what’s happening around them.

Spokane C.O.P.S. is the non-profit group that organizes block watches in the city. Christy Hamilton, C.O.P.S. director, says block watches teach neighbors to start identifying who and what doesn’t belong in their neighborhood.

“We train the neighbors to start being observant and getting them in that mindset,” Hamilton said.

When neighbors apply for a block watch, a C.O.P.S. volunteer or Hamilton herself trains them to share communication information with each other including phone numbers, email and home addresses.

“We train that neighborhood on how to talk to each other. Find out who belongs and who doesn’t. If they’ve seen a car that doesn’t look right or someone that looks like a prowler, we train them to call that in immediately,” Hamilton explained. “If your instincts tell you it isn’t right, call it in.”

The block watch program is something Spokane C.O.P.S has been pushing lately. Hamilton says they already have 700-800 watches in the city limits set up. They cover a pocket of homes spanning one to four blocks in a neighborhood. The extra pair of eyes help Spokane Police start in the right direction to reduce crime. Hamilton pushes the program because she says it works.

“When people are paying attention to their community, we can stop crime and get a handle of it. If five neighbors call in with the make and model of a suspicious vehicle, the police have something to work with,” Hamilton added.

Neighbors can set up their own block watch. All they have to do is visit Spokane C.O.P.S. website or visit their local C.O.P.S. shop. Locations are available online as well.