Neighborhood Watch

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Do not leave your vehicles unlocked

• Do not leave anything of value visible from outside your vehicle
• Park in your driveway or garage if possible
• Keep sheds and garages locked
• Leave your outside lights on all night
• Become more involved in your community, join your Civic League

If you are leaving town:

• Alert a trusted neighbor
• Stop newspaper and mail delivery
• Install timers on interior and exterior lights
• Leave a car parked in your driveway or ask a neighbor to park their car In your driveway
  

If you suspect anything out of the ordinary, see suspicious people, or see suspicious activity in the neighborhood: call the VBPD non

emergency number, 757-385-5000. Give them a description of the person or persons and describe why you feel they are acting suspicious. If you see an actual crime being committed or about to be committed, call VBPD at 911 immediately.
Some of us may be hesitant to report suspicious people or vehicles fearing that we will be regarded as “snoops”. Your own neighbors are your single best security device. The greatest deterrent to a would-be criminal is the fear of getting caught. Each concerned citizen is another pair of eyes to let the criminal know that he is being watched. You are a vital part of Neighborhood Watch. One or two people cannot watch 907 homes. It takes all of us to do our part. Thank you for doing your part it’s paying off.

From the "Lake Smith Ripples" February newsletter:

Happy New Year! from your Neighborhood Watch!

Thanks for everyone keeping our crime rate very low. The Third Precinct Commander, Captain Gordon, said that they rarely get any calls for service from Lake Smith Terrace, Haygood Point, Governor Square. Let’s keep it that way. Don’t hesitate to call the police if you see something that looks suspicious. This is what Neighborhood Watch is -- everyone watching out to keep

our community safe. Do not think that you are bothering the police when you see something that doesn’t “look right”. They would rather that you call than wish you called. Sometimes this is all it takes to get a criminal out of our neighborhood.

When going on vacation we always hear about taking care that our home is secure and being looked after by a trusted neighbor or family member but we also need to stay vigilant and maintain the security of our belongings while on vacation. Do not become complacent just because you are on vacation! Take the time to research crime in the area where you will be staying - where any

potentially dangerous areas are and do your best to avoid them. Take the time to discuss situational awareness with your children and have a plan in case you become separated. Don’t rely on your cell phone. If you are robbed it will be taken. Plan ahead – plan for what you would do if you lose it in a strange city.

Scams. The Nigerian prince with millions of dollars they want to send to you is now something that most of us are well aware of. Scammers are getting increasingly more imaginative and coming up with new, believable ways to gain access to our hard-earned savings. Be very suspicious. Good people expect others to behave like they would but that’s what works to the advantage of

scammers. They prey on good people with some get rich scheme or a sad story, and being compassionate, it is normal to want to help because we want to help someone in need. It goes against our beliefs and principles to be suspicious but that is what we must do.

There are too many stories of people who lost large sums of money or suffered physical harm by people who gained their trust.

Do not give money to strangers. Do not let strangers into your home. Keep your vehicles locked. Get to know your neighbors.

Sam Hribal, Civic League Vice President