The 4th Precinct CARE Task Force is supporting a resident based initiative called We Watch We Call – for Safe Neighborhoods.
Lawn signs with We Watch – We Call are free for residents to put in their front lawns to send the message that neighbors are working together to keep their blocks crime and problem free.
It’s all about we, not me! Often, a problem property, or badly behaving people on a block, can change the social environment and cause other residents, homeowners or tenants, to be uncomfortable, anxious or fearful. Calls to 911 may be appropriate when things get out of hand or criminal conduct is observed, but sometimes residents are concerned that they will be singled out as the complainer – and because of a fear of retaliation the call is never made.
We Watch – We Call helps to resolve that concern. If several houses on a block share the public commitment to a safe neighborhood, one block at a time, no one will be singled out. With the We Watch – We Call sign in several yards it becomes a group decision that the block will be safe and crime free with the added benefit that the entire neighborhood becomes a safer place.
Now, just putting a sign in your yard is not enough – the second part of the message to We Watch is – We Call. Calls to 911 or 311 (about non criminal complaints) must be made by one or all of the neighbors on the block. It is not enough to post a sign and expect that things will change by that act alone, although a block of signs signaling the intent for a safe neighborhood may be a deterrent to bad behavior.
If you, and other residents on your block are interested in We Watch – We Call make arrangements to pick up signs by calling 612.521.2100.
