What is Neighborhood Watch?

Neighborhood Watch is a program designed to increase the safety and sense of community in neighborhoods by organizing and involving individuals and families in a united crime prevention effort

Neighborhood Watch participants learn how to:
• Communicate regularly with their neighbors.
• Recognize and report suspicious and criminal activity.
• Increase home and vehicle security.
• Increase personal safety of residents.
• Make neighborhoods less attractive to criminals.

How is a Neighborhood Watch Group formed?

• Assess neighborhood needs.
• Arrange a neighborhood kickoff meeting.
• Select a leader(s)-block captain(s).
• Provide a list of participating residents to the Problem Oriented Policing Officer.
• Once the list is received, the POP Officer will have Neighborhood Watch signs installed. POP will provide crime prevention information and window decals to the block captain(s) to distribute.

What are Block Captain duties?

Recertify your Neighborhood Watch Group by updating your neighborhood list annually. We will advise you when your list needs to be updated. (Neighborhood Watch Group lists are for Neighborhood Watch groups only). You can submit your information by:
• Email:  matthew.park@hoffmanstates.org
• Call:    (847) 781-2800

Other Crime Prevention Options

• Encourage neighbors to watch out for each other and inform the police immediately of any suspicious activity.            Residents know best what is unusual in their neighborhood.
• Consider having an annual Neighborhood Watch meeting and invite police personnel.
• Participate in our National Night Out event which is held at the Police Department.

Current NHW Groups:

Autumn Chase Apartments @ Bode/Salem
Illinois Blvd/Glendale Lane area
Haverford Place area (West of I-90)
Beacon Pointe (west of Beverly Road)
Hunter’s Ridge West
Winston Knolls (north of I-90)

Ready to Start a Neighborhood Watch Group in your area? Start a Watch Group in 5 Easy Steps

1.  Recruit and Organize as many neighbors as possible

It is wonderful that you are taking the steps to start a Neighborhood Watch group in your neighborhood. The first step is talking to your fellow neighbors about starting a group.

2. Contact your local law enforcement agency and schedule a meeting

The next step is contacting your local law enforcement agency. Invite them to meet with your group at a time and place convenient for your Watch Group. It is essential for your group to work in collaboration with law enforcement because Neighborhood Watch is a cooperative effort.

3. Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan

If law enforcement is unavailable to come to the first meeting you might want to have a meeting to discuss the concerns and issues in the neighborhood. Your group should create a plan on how to work towards lessening the impact of the top 3 concerns of neighbors.

4. Create a communication plan

It is important to decide what type of communication will work for your watch group - meetings or social media or both.

5. Take Action: Hold Meetings and Events

Neighborhood Watch Toolkit has a number of wonderful training topics and meeting ideas that can be useful to your group.

What are some of the benefits of starting a Watch Group?

• Partnerships with Law Enforcement and your Neighbors
• Reduction in Crime
• A More Secure and Better Prepared Hometown
• A More United Community
• Improved Communications


For general inquiries and information about the Neighborhood Watch Program, contact Officer Kassidy Ortiz in the Community Relations Division (847) 781-2880.

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