Neighborhood Watch Program

Overview

You and your neighbors know your streets best and will likely be the first to see a crime and call for help. We need your help to reduce, prevent, and report crime.

The Ventura Police Neighborhood Watch Program is a crime prevention effort which relies on an active partnership between residents and the officers who patrol their neighborhoods.

It is important for our officers and staff to hear first-hand what's important to our community. This is not only an opportunity for residents to share concerns and problem-solving ideas; it's a chance for us to personally and professionally connect with those we serve, ultimately enhancing the quality of life in neighborhoods.

Finally, it's important to note that your Neighborhood Watch will only be as effective as you and your neighbors choose to make it. If you apply some effort into maintaining your group with regular communications and meetings, your Neighborhood Watch can be an effective deterrent to criminal activity in your area.

Neighborhood Watch IS:

A group of neighbors who believe preventing, reducing, and reporting crime is everyone's responsibility.
A crime prevention program designed for Ventura's residential community.
Operated by neighbors and supported by the Ventura Police Department.
A commitment to removing any obstacles that could hinder your safety and well-being, as well as that of your neighbor.
Neighbors communicating with one an other regularly and learning the working habits of their neighbors- who is gone during the day, who has dogs, who has kids, what cars people own, etc. When you know these things, it becomes easier to spot suspicious people and identify vehicles that are not normally in the neighborhood.

How to start a Neighborhood Watch:

1. Recruit and organize neighbors
2. Submit a Meeting Request Form to invite an officer
3. Spread the word about your first meeting
4. Host regular meetings and stay in touch

Recruit and organize as many neighbors as possible: Consider hosting a preliminary meeting to gauge neighborhood interest and discuss program benefits and problems you'd like addressed. Ask about convenient times and locations for meetings and pick 2-3 possible dates. A Neighborhood Watch is most successful with buy-in from all in the area.

Meetings can be held at personal residences, public parks, neighborhood schools (with site permission), faith-based locations, and truly any space where you can bring people together.

Meetings spaces do not need to have a TV or screen projector available, although depending on the topics discussed, it may be easiest to display maps, data, and other information this way.

Neighborhood Watch Signs

Neighborhood Watch signs are a great visual deterrent to criminal activity. They let neighbors, visitors, and criminals know that residents in the area are alert, look out for one another, and will call the police to report suspicious or illegal activity. However, they are just one piece of a successful Neighborhood Watch and should not be solely relied upon to prevent crime.

We are providing active Neighborhood Watch groups the opportunity to apply for a public facing, department branded Neighborhood Watch sign be installed in your neighborhood free of charge. To request a sign, please host your first meeting with neighbors and a Ventura Police Officer. Once that first meeting has occurred, we'll be in touch with the sign application.