Neighborhood Watch
Throughout the years, Neighborhood Watch has grown from an "extra eyes and ears" approach to an all encompassing crime prevention partnership. This proactive community-oriented endeavor now includes the active involvement of residents with their local law enforcement. These residents, form Neighborhood Watch groups throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, take an active role in protecting our community. Many of these groups have developed on-line crime awareness and prevention Web sites with information directly pertaining to their area, have created community newsletters to keep their residents informed of crime related matters and safety information, and even have communication networks in place to quickly share information. Many of these groups are very proactive and are now incorporating activities that not only proactively address crime prevention issues, but which also restore pride and unity to a neighborhood. It is not uncommon to see Neighborhood Watch groups participating in neighborhood cleanups, graffiti abatement programs, and other activities which impact the quality of life in our community. Some residents even take it a step further and get involved with Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). This program is designed to help families, neighborhoods, schools, and businesses prepare for effective response to a disaster or major emergency through training and preplanning. The training covers basic skills that are important to helping out in your neighborhood in the event that emergency services are not immediately available. These actively involved people understand that local law enforcement cannot do it alone. We need your eyes, ears, and involvement and we understand that!
The adoption of community policing by local law enforcement agencies has also contributed to the resurgence in watch groups over the years. Neighborhood Watch fits nicely within the framework of law enforcement/community partnerships, and Neighborhood Watch meetings can be a useful forum to discuss neighborhood problems, practice problem-solving techniques, and come up with strategies to be applied to each unique area of our community.
Get Involved
Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station - Community Relations and Crime Prevention Unit hold Neighborhood Watch training meetings on weekly basis in neighborhoods throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. Contact Deputy Regina Yost or Deputy Pat Rissler to arrange training in your neighborhood. The deputies will provide information on auto theft protection, identity theft, burglary prevention, home safety, reporting graffiti, senior scam protection and much, much more. Program participants are offered information on how to form a new Neighborhood Watch Program or update an existing one; how to sign up on-line for crime prevention information and alerts right here on the SCVSheriff.com Web site; and how to better protect their community by staying actively involved. Take an active role in protecting your community and help establish or update a Neighborhood Watch Program in your area today! Working together we can make a difference.
Building Community Partnerships
There are currently more than 200 registered Neighborhood Watch Block Captains heading up active Neighborhood Watch groups in residential areas throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. Neighborhood Watch is one of the most effective and cost efficient ways to prevent crime. It is the cornerstone of all crime prevention programs. It enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with local law enforcement to reduce burglaries and other neighborhood crimes. Neighborhood Watch groups are taught how to make their homes more secure, watch out for each other and the neighborhood, and report suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Department. The program builds pride with-in the neighborhood and creates a partnership between law enforcement and the community. Station Commander, Captain Anthony La Berge, strongly supports these crime prevention programs and encourages all residents to take a proactive role in preventing crime and protecting our neighborhoods.
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Community Relations and Crime Prevention Unit and Neighborhood Watch groups work in partnership with various County of Los Angeles and City of Santa Clarita entities to ensure the safest possible neighborhoods, schools, and businesses. These partnerships help prevent or address criminal mattes, but at the same time they also address nuisance and safety problems, and quality of life issues. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station works in direct partnership with the City of Santa Clarita's Graffiti Task Force to keep gangs and graffiti out of our neighborhoods and away from our schools. Residents can contact Cynthia Llerenas, from the City of Santa Clarita Graffiti Removal Task Force - (661) 255-CLEAN to request removal of graffiti or talk about graffiti watch/reporting programs and abatement efforts.
Working together we can address community protection efforts in such areas as, auto theft prevention, identity theft awareness, burglary prevention, home safety , personal safety, school watch, and senior scam protection. Deputies assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit also keep close tabs on current crime trends, today's most effective safety and prevention tips, and areas of concern raised by our residents in our neighborhoods. By maintaining this knowledge we are better prepared to protect and inform you.
You don't have to wait to get involved - simply fill out the form below or contact Deputy Regina Yost or Deputy Pat Rissler of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Community Relations and Crime Prevention Unit via e-mail, or telephone them at (661) 799-5164.
To become a part of Neighborhood Watch in your area, or to receive electronic updates via e-mail about Neighborhood Watch, safety tips, and crime prevention related information, please fill out the form below.
