Merrimack looking for crime watchers

Published: Friday, January 22, 2010

MERRIMACK – Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch, Town Watch, Crime Watch – whatever the name, it’s one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce fear. Neighborhood Watch fights the isolation that crime creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents, helps reduce burglaries and robberies and improves relations between police and the communities they serve. The Watch also is a good mechanism to avoid overt acts.

The Neighborhood Watch is sponsored by Merrimack Crimeline. The Crimeline is trying to revamp neighborhood watch groups with Crimeline member Jackie Watson and Community Service Officer Rob Kelleher. The Crimeline is hoping to start Neighborhood Watches and re-activated existing groups and encourages community participation. Any community resident can join – young, old, single, married, renter or home owner.

A few concerned residents, a community organization or a law enforcement agency can spearhead the effort to organize a watch. Members learn how to make their homes more secure, watch out for each other and the neighborhood and report activities that raise their suspicions to the police. Watch groups can be formed around any geographical unit: a block, apartment, park, business area, public housing complex, condominium complex or office. Watch groups are not vigilantes. They are extra eyes and ears for reporting crime and helping neighbors.

For more information, contact Community Service Officer Rob Kelleher at 420-1853 or rkelleher@merrimacknh.gov or Merrimack Crimeline member Jackie Watson at 943-1024.