Neighborhood Watch Block Captain to the Rescue
By Antioch Police
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 shortly after a young male suspect attempted to commit a residential burglary, the effectiveness of our Neighborhood Watch Program proved just how useful it truly is. The burglary suspect repeatedly rang a front door bell and then knocked on the door. When the resident didn’t answer the door, the suspect attempted to kick in the front door. The resident yelled at the suspect and the suspect fled on foot.
Soon thereafter an officer arrived in the area, located the suspect and then the chase was on. A neighbor, who happened to be a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain, had witnessed the attempted burglary and she started to follow the suspect while driving her vehicle. She temporarily lost sight of the fleeing suspect, but soon relocated him as she came across the pursuing officer. The Neighborhood Block Captain noticed that the suspect had quite a lead on the pursuing officer, so she pulled up alongside the officer and ordered him into her car. The pursuing officer happily obliged and the Neighborhood Block Captain drove the officer up next to the fleeing suspect and the officer promptly jumped out of the car and pounced on the surprised would be burglar. The suspect was arrested without incident thanks to the assistance of the Neighborhood Watch Block Captain.
A Neighborhood Watch Program can put the “Neighbor” back into a neighborhood by creating a sense of community. It brings citizens and law enforcement together to reduce crime. Neighborhood Watch allows us, community members and the police department, to effectively communicate about criminal activity in a particular neighborhood. It provides a network or set of contacts throughout the community, which serves to enhance the communication between the citizens and members of the police department.
This is an example of how a concerned neighbor helped multiply the resources of the police department, which in-turn helps reduce the incidence of crime and improves the quality of life for all.
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