Neighborhood Watch has become especially practical in our current society, in which two-income families are the norm and many neighborhoods are deserted during the day. While criminals have attempted to use this statistic to their advantage, law enforcement has uncovered an important reality: the communities in which citizens have observed and reported suspicious activity have enjoyed lower crime rates. That is the bottom line, WE, the residents of Cottonwood Heights, can make our neighborhoods a safer place to live by being INVOLVED!
The Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch (CHNW) program is comprised of many neighborhoods in varying stages of organization; some have been well-organized for 20 years and some are in the infancy stage. In the past year there has been a big push to find, document, and support all existing Neighborhood Watch group within Cottonwood Heights and to organize the rest of the neighborhoods within the city into well-trained groups. If you would like to register your Neighborhood Watch or would like to be a Block Captain or Neighborhood Coordinator, please sign up online at www.chneighborhoodwatch.com .
The newly set-up CHNW groups are devoted primarily to disseminating information on the nature and volume of burglary and securing residential property and making it less vulnerable to break-ins and using an “extra eyes and ears” approach to crime prevention. Those new Neighborhood Watch are encouraged to view the training videos at www.chneighborhoodwatch.com provided by the CH Police Department.
The goal of the CHNW is to eventually have all Neighborhood Watch groups enjoy a much more proactive, community-oriented endeavor providing a unique infrastructure that brings together local officials, law enforcement, and citizens for the protection of their communities. Currently our more well-established neighborhoods incorporate activities that not only address crime prevention issues, but also restore pride and unity to a neighborhood by enjoying annual block parties and participation in community cleanups and other activities that strive to improve the quality of life for community residents.
Currently, CHNW is working with members of the CH Community Emergency Response Team to determine the best way for both organizations to work together within our neighborhoods. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.