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Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that stresses education and common sense. It teaches citizens how to help themselves by identifying and reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. In addition, it provides citizens with the opportunity to make their neighborhoods safer and improve the quality of life. Neighborhood Watch groups focus on observation and awareness as a means of preventing crime and employ strategies that range from simply promoting social interaction and "watching out for each other" to active patrols by groups of citizens.

National Neighborhood Watch does not advocate Watch members taking any action when observing suspicious activity in their neighborhood. Community members only serve as the extra “eyes and ears” and should report their observations of suspicious activities to their local law enforcement. Trained law enforcement should be the only ones ever to take action; citizens should never try to take action on those observations. 

The Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Program, since its inauguration in February of 2002, plays an important role in police resource allocation. The residents of our great community have come to realize their responsibility of reporting crime and potential events that lead to crime in a timely manner and working together with the police department to keep our city a great place to live and raise a family.

Vehicles and people that seem ‘out-of-place’ are deemed suspicious. When reporting any type of suspicious activities, try to give the police the best description possible: 1) Vehicle - license number, make, model, color, and direction of travel; 2) Person – clothing description, possible age, race, height, and weight. All of this is important in resolving community problems.

 

To report a crime or suspicious activity that may lead to crime,

please call the police department IMMEDIATELY

Police Dispatch for non-emergencies at (636) 529-8210 or (314) 867-0080.

For EMERGENCIES, dial 911.