SPD Urges Community Crime Watch for Apartment and Condo Residents

SPD Urges Community Crime Watch for Apartment and Condo Residents

While apartment complex owners and managers are responsible for providing a safe and secure premises, residents can help to protect themselves and their neighbors through a Community Crime Watch.

The Seattle Police Department explains, a “Community Crime Watch…is based on the principle that neighbors working together are the first and best line of defense against crime.”

Read SPD tips to get a Community Crime Watch started in your apartment community:

Two Basic Commitments

1. A commitment to be concerned about your neighbor’s property as well as your own.
2. A commitment that when you see suspicious activity, you will take action by calling your neighbor or 9-1-1.

Getting Started

• Get to know all your adjacent neighbors and communicate often
• Agree to watch out for each other
• Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality.  Simply acknowledging people you see – whether you know them or not – sends the message that you as a community are paying attention to your environment.
• Pay attention to what is going on around the building, the community. If you see people or vehicles in the building or on the grounds that you don’t recognize, and/or you notice behaviors that seem out of place, tell someone; tell each other, tell building or property management.  If the behavior is suspicious or criminal in nature, do not hesitate to call 911 and tell police.
• Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality.  Simply acknowledging people you see – whether you know them or not – sends the message that you as a community are paying attention to your environment.

How to Support Your Crime Watch Program

• Report all emergencies or suspicious activities to 9-1-1 immediately.
• Call your Apartment Watch or Condo Watch Captain or Floor Captain after you have reported to 9-1-1 when you have been burglarized, or notice any suspicious activity.
• Welcome new neighbors and invite them to join the Crime Watch.
• Periodically look out the window and respond to any suspicious activity, strangers or noises by calling 9-1-1.
• Take your turn as Watch Captain or Co-Captain.  You can also volunteer to host your annual get-together.

Be a Good Neighbor

• Good neighbors should look out for each other.  Get to know your neighbors on each side of you and the three directly across from you.  Invite them into your home, communicate often, and establish trust.
• Good neighbors will watch out for your home or apartment when you are away, if you ask them.  They can report suspicious activity to the police or to you while you are away.

Know Your Rights

Apartment residents have a right to feel safe and secure while on premises. By law, apartment owners and management companies are required to protect all residents and guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm.

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