| COORDINATOR: | Gregory Desbiens(email) |
(703) 758-1418 |
| CAPTAIN: AREA 1 | Jay Minnix |
(703) 620-9517 |
| CAPTAIN: AREA 2 | Roberta Sherman | (703) 860-3943 |
| CAPTAIN: AREA 3 | Carolann Zuchowski |
(703) 476-8494 |
| CAPTAIN: AREA 4 | Brendan Murphy | (703) 860-1620 |
| CAPTAIN: AREA 5 | Kerry Carrico | (703) 620-3451 |
| CAPTAIN: AREA 6 | Mary Tetreault | (703) 264-1826 |
|
CAPTAIN: AREA 7 |
Gris Simpson |
(703) 860-7995 |
 |
||
This section includes helpful information gathered from the Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch Program on the following topics:
 |
Recognizing Suspicious Activity, Persons, or Vehicles
| Describing and Reporting of Events, Vehicles and Persons
|
| When Leaving Home for Several Days
| Newsletter - Reston District (PDF Format)
Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch Program The Fairfax County Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Program was established on October 24, 1979. In 1993 the program was recognized by President Clinton as being one of the oldest and largest in the nation. It encourages community and individual involvement in crime prevention and targets primarily burglaries, larcenies and vandalism in residential areas. The program has three separate but related functions: A formally organized continuing citizen patrol, a comprehensive security inspection of homes, and personal property identification by the residents. In Fairfax County alone there are over 850 Neighborhood Watch programs with 35,000 volunteers, and participation has risen steadily over the years. In the Camelot community the Neighborhood Watch Program has been in existence for over fifteen years (with five original members still serving) and was honored as a "Point of Light" by President Bush. Involvement of the Department in a Neighborhood Watch program includes providing training of the Watch coordinator and committee members, maintaining contact with and notifying the coordinator of any crime trends or patterns that may threaten the neighborhood. Meetings with Neighborhood Watch committee members are conducted on a periodic basis to address crime problems and plan strategies. Crime awareness training is provided on an ongoing basis and material resources are provided. District station crime analysts provide monthly crime statistics and point out problem areas in support of the Neighborhood Watch Program. The Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch Program serves as a model for other programs throughout the country. It is instrumental in bringing police and citizens closer together through an awareness of common and cooperative goals and is largely responsible for the significant decrease in the number of residential burglaries within the County. |
BE ALERT. Anything that seems slightly "out of place" or is occurring at an unusual time of day could be criminal activity. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND A PERSON COMMITTING A CRIME OR INVESTIGATE A SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. Call the police or sheriff's department immediately, and do not worry about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Law enforcement officers would rather investigate than be called when it is too late.
The following incidents MAY indicate possible criminal activity and should be reported:
| Continuous repair operations at a location(stolen property being altered);
| Open or broken doors and windows at a closed business or unoccupied
residence (burglary or vandalism);
| Unusual noises, such as gunshots, screaming, or dogs barking continuously
(burglary, assault, or rape);
| Sound of breaking glass (burglary or vandalism);
| A person exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms (person may be
injured, under the influence of drugs, or otherwise needing medical
attention). | |
Time and accuracy are critical in reporting crime or suspicious events. Use your law enforcement agency's emergency number to report life-threatening incidents or a crime in progress, and use the non-emergency number for crimes that have already occurred. Your call could save a life, prevent an injury, or stop a crime. The information you provide will be kept confidential. You do not need to give your name, although this is often helpful.
Obviously, not every stranger who comes into a neighborhood is a criminal. Legitimate door-to-door sales and repair people appear in residential areas frequently. Occasionally, however, criminals disguise themselves as these workers; therefore, it is important to be alert to the activities of all nonresidents. Law enforcement officials should be called to investigate persons in the following circumstances, who may be suspects in the crimes indicated:
| Going door to door in a residential area, especially if one or more goes
to rear of residence or loiters in front of an unoccupied house or closed
business (burglary);
| Forcing entrance or entering an unoccupied house (burglary, theft, or
trespassing);
| Running, especially if carrying something of value or carrying unwrapped
property at an unusual hour (fleeing the scene of a crime);
| Heavy traffic to and from a residence, particularly if it occurs on a
daily basis (drug dealing, vice or fence operation);
| Screaming (rape or assault):
| Loitering around or peering into cars, especially in parking lots or on
streets (car theft);
| Loitering around schools, parks or secluded areas (sex offender);
| Offering items for sale at a very low price (trying to sell stolen
property);
| Loitering or driving through a neighborhood several times or appearing as
delivery person with a wrong address (burglary). | |
Vehicles in the following situations MAY be involved in crimes and should be reported to authorities:
| Slow moving, without lights, following aimless course in any location,
including residential streets, schools, and playgrounds (burglar, drug
dealer, or sex offender);
| Parked or occupied, containing one or more persons, especially at an
unusual hour (lookouts for a burglary or robbery);
| Parked by a business or unoccupied residence, being loaded with valuables
(burglary or theft);
| Abandoned in your neighborhood (stolen car);
| Containing weapons (criminal activity);
| Someone, especially a female or juvenile, being forced into a vehicle
(kidnapping, assault, or attempted rape);
| Business transactions taking place in it, especially around schools or
parks (sale of stolen items or drugs);
| Persons detaching mechanical parts or accessories from it (theft or
vandalism);
| Objects being thrown from it (disposing of contraband). | |
Practicing to develop skill in providing quick, accurate descriptions is an excellent NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meeting activity. In attempting to describe events, vehicles, or persons, write down the details of what you have observed while they are still fresh in your mind, so your descriptions to law enforcement officials will be accurate as possible.
To report an aggressive child or unbuckled child, please go to the Fairfax County site below:
When describing events, write down:
| What happened;
| When it happened;
| Where it occurred (note the nearest cross street, home address, or
landmark in relationship to the event);
| Whether injuries are involved (Be prepared to report visible or suspected
personal injury. Be as specific as possible - this could save a life!);
| Whether weapons are involved (this information, whether observed or
suspected, is vital to responding officers). | |
When describing vehicles, write down:
| Vehicle license number and state, make and type of vehicle, color, and
approximate age;
| Special designs or unusual features, such as vinyl top, wheels, body
damage, pinstripes, etc.;
| Direction of travel. | |
In preparing descriptions of persons, it is important to write down the following:
| Sex;
| Race;
| Age;
| Height (estimated from eye contact level measured against your height);
| Weight;
| Hair (color and length);
| Hat;
| Facial Hair (beard/mustache);
| Shirt/tie;
| Coat/jacket;
| Trousers;
| Shoes;
| Any peculiar or distinguishable mannerisms, physical disabilities,
disfigurations, scars or tattoos;
| Voice characteristics;
| Direction of movement. | |
You must be aware of the potential risk of crime in you home in order to prevent it. First…Remember that the key factor in most crimes is OPPORTUNITY IF THEY CAN'T GET AT IT, THEY CAN'T TAKE IT! Then…follow a regular plan of home security to deter the potential burglar or other intruder.
| Use a timer or photo electric cell that automatically turns a living room
light on at dusk, particularly if you are going to be away at that time;
| Leave a radio on with the volume turned low when leaving home, even for
short periods;
| Always close and lock garage doors;
| Secure automatic garage door transmitter in glove compartment of your car;
| Secure all obvious (and not so obvious) points of entry to your home.
| Pretend you are the burglar…stand outside your home and plan how you
would get in; then install secure locks on all doors and windows;
| Lock up all ladders, ropes, or tools that could help a burglar gain entry;
| Keep all shrubbery trimmed near your doors and windows-don't provide
concealment or climbing platforms for the burglar;
| Brightly illuminate all entrances, preferably with vandal-proof fixtures;
| Keep your grass cut, your leaves raked, etc., to indicate a well cared for
and occupied home;
| Empty your mailbox or arrange to have it emptied as soon as mail is
delivered;
| Install new locks when moving into an apartment or previously owned home;
| Keep extra keys out of sight and in a safe place; never hide a key
outside--most hiding places are obvious to burglars;
| Avoid displaying valuable items near windows with open drapes or shades;
| Never leave a note on the door explaining why you are not at home;
| Never leave doors or windows unlocked when leaving home;
| Display only your last name on your nameplate or mailbox;
| Start a "buddy system" with you neighbors in order to watch each
other's homes; watch for "movers" or "repair people" at
a house where no one is home. | |
| Don't cancel your paper or mail deliveries; ask that your neighbor pick
them up every day;
| Leave a key with a friend or neighbor; ask that the house be checked
periodically;
| Have the drapes periodically opened and closed; and have different lights
turned on and off so the house appears occupied;
| Store all your valuables;
| Tell police when you are leaving and when you plan to return; they will
check on your house periodically;
| Consider asking friends or relatives to live in your home while you are
away;
| Leave a car in the driveway, or ask neighbors to park in it;
| Ask your neighbor to put some trash in your trashcans. | |
Despite precautions, if intruders are determined to enter and burglarize your home, they can probably do so. However, burglars usually seek the easiest target-and you can take steps to make your house less vulnerable.
