Posted on: January 13, 2017
Form a Block Watch and Help Fight Crime
A simple concept with a little organization can help reduce crime and criminal activity in your neighbourhood.
The Regional Crime Prevention Coordinator says it’s called Block Watch and has for almost a decade helped residents in over a dozen neighbourhoods reduce crime throughout West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country, the two electoral areas and on Westbank First Nation reserves.
Roy Morgan adds the most recent addition to the program involves dozens of neighbours throughout Joe Rich, who came together to form a Block Watch area last year.
He says the success of the Block Watch is in its simplicity. “It’s designed so that neighbours watch out for each other and get involved in discouraging and preventing crime at the street and neighbourhood level.” He adds, “Neighbours are aware of the normal comings and goings in their area. As a result they may be the first to know when someone or something suspicious and unusual is going on and then report it to the RCMP. By working together, neighbours can actively prevent crime in the most effective way – before it happens.”
Block Watch participants not only learn how to be more aware of their neighbourhood surroundings, but also how to make their homes less inviting to thieves, how to prevent auto theft and how to recognize and report suspicious activity. Morgan adds, “It’s easy to organize a Block Watch area and helps bring neighbours together for a common goal.”
Anyone living in the Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West Electoral Areas or the municipalities of Lake Country, Peachland and West Kelowna that might be interested in receiving more information or a presentation on the Block Watch program are welcome to call 250-707-8021 or email crime.prevention@cord.bc.ca.
For more information on the Block Watch program visit the Crime Prevention pages in the Police Services section of Regional District website www.regionaldistrict.com.