The Carriages at Parliament Place

The (Real) Need for a Neighborhood Watch

Dec 23, 2002

Nothing brings neighbors together faster than a common threat ... be it the emergence of criminal activity, a new developer with a warped idea of style, or re-zoning an adjacent property for a fast-food joint ... this is the fodder for banding together, looking out for each other, and speaking in one voice.

In the short few months since residents began to set up house in The Carriages at Parliament Place (and before that during initial construction), we have been the target of vandals, thieves and prowlers, and that threat is probably not going to go away. Some examples:

1. Window glass was broken in the model and some units under construction before anyone moved in. The youths involved in the vandalism were apprehended and turned over to the police and their parents. Note: it is Classic Homes' policy to prosecute all cases of vandalism and theft, and they offer a reward to anyone providing information of such an event. Restitution was made in this case.

2. Some outdoor garden statues and decorations were stolen by persons unknown in September from two units near the model. Approximately $250 worth of items was lost, including some items of irreplaceable and sentimental value. The police and insurers were not notified of the theft.

3. During the weekend following Thanksgiving, a prowler was detected after midnight outside a window of an occupied residence near the model. The police were called, responded, but found nothing.

4. In early December, a resident putting trash outside noticed a very strong smell of burning wood in the air and feared a fire might have broken out somewhere in the development. He walked the entire property looking for signs of fire and noticed the smell of smoke lessened the farther away from the model he went. The Fire Department was called as a precaution, responded within minutes, and determined the smoke was likely from wood-burning fireplaces outside the immediate development, and lingering due to calm winds.

It's up to us as the residents to counter the threat with increased awareness, organization for dealing with the cause and effect, and an ingenuity to deter it. A Neighborhood Watch is one step supported by the police, but we can do so much more.

One way is to know your neighbors and their needs well, plus how to contact them in an emergency.

a. If fire broke out, and we have residents who are not very mobile or pets who are trapped, we can raise the alarm and assist others until and after officials arrive.

b. Similarly, in heavy snow or other severe weather conditions, the able-bodied among us could help to clear walkways and assist neighbors until the contracted help could get onsite. An occasional dumping of a few feet of snow or high winds leading to being cut off from supplies and utilities is something to prepare for in this area.

c. If you don't know your neighbor well, and they don't know you, knocking on their door in the dead of night may be scarier than calling them on a home phone or cell phone ... and you won't have to go outside either.

d. If an ambulance or a police vehicle shows up at a neighbor's home, it would be nice for someone to help identify the resident and whether they have special needs for medications or notification.

e. If your neighbor knows you well enough, they probably wouldn't hesitate to take a delivery on your behalf, or remove tell-tale newspapers from view if you were away for a few days. Perhaps you could offer to feed some plants or a pet while they are away too. I'm sure you would reciprocate if they needed your help.

Another simple measure is for the community and individual residents to post signs against soliciting, and announcing we are a Neighborhood Watch community, and to post security stickers in prominent window locations around our homes.

We can also leave outdoor lights on at night to deny a crook the cover of darkness, and to help illuminate our neighbor's exterior as well. The annual cost for one or two light bulbs left on nightly is just a few dollars a year.

We can also watch for vehicles and people we don't know, politely ask why they are in our private neighborhood, or feel empowered to call for help from a neighbor or the authorities when required.

Look at it from a criminal's point-of-view: will you try to gain entry to a home in a neighborhood that looks prepared, or one in a neighborhood that isn't? If we take the simple steps outlined here, we can send a strong deterrent message to anyone who might want to interfere with our community.

None of us should live in fear when we are so many, and well-prepared. Criminals generally do not want confrontation, or the threat of it.

At least that's the way I see it, and I invite your ideas, comments and participation. [LC]