Police resources can only do so much and can only be in so many places at one time so it is important for citizens to take some responsibility for their personal and
neighbourhood safety. Posting on Facebook and other social media may seem productive but most police services do not monitor these groups due to there being no
search tools for the police. Social media posts just seem to motivate comments of frustration and shaming.
Before the internet, people formed formal neighbourhood watches where they could share information with each other and the police.
Using a web tool like Neighbourhood Protect would bring back that formal structure but automate the communication.
Meta-analysis shows that neighbourhood watch reduces crime by about 16% (Source, see "Summary of the results"). It also aides in an investigation
because it informs neighbours with cameras that a crime has occurred and they can check their video for a possible perpetrator or suspicious vehicle, something that likely would not happen without a watch.
It is free and therefore one of the cheapest ways to protect
your property and neighbourhood. Automation has made it almost effortless so there is no reason not to sign up and start a neighbourhood watch.
Recognized By Many Organizations
While Neighbourhood Protect is fairly new, being established in 2016, it is starting to be recognized across Canada by police agencies, city councillors and communities as a good tool for neighbourhood watch.
A Canadian insurance organization, Onlia, mentioned Neighbourhood Protect for local safety. Onlia blog article, section Join a neighbourhood watch program
OPP in Prince Edward County are currently looking to establish neighbourhood watch groups in their area using Neighbourhood Protect.
Chatham-Kent Police in Wallaceburg ON find Neighbourhood Protect very helpful in solving local crime. Wallaceburg news article, "Chatham-Kent Special Const. Randi Hull connects the information shared online with the officers in charge of certain investigations."
The community of North Perth has listed Neighbourhood Protect as a neighbourhood watch tool to consider. Community of North Perth, Neighbourhood Watch section.
The town of Wallaceburg has listed Neighbourhood Protect as their official neighbourhood watch tool. Wallaceburg official neighbourhood watch platform. "The immediate focus for Neighbourhood Watch in Wallaceburg is to utilize an online program called Neighbourhood Protect, in order to generate anonymous tips and information about crime and suspicious activity occurring in Wallaceburg."
Wallaceburgcouncillor Aaron Hall recommends Neighbourhood Protect.
"Councillor Aaron Hall is one of the committee members of the Wallaceburg Neighbourhood Watch, and would like to see more people make use of the online Neighbourhood Protect portal."
"'It`s a way to share information in people`s neighbourhoods,' Hall says. 'It`s anonymous as well, so you can go on and provide information, as opposed to being on social media...your name`s not necessarily attached to it but it still has that focus of sharing information and trying to keep your neighbours and your family up to speed on what you`re seeing in terms of crime in the community.'"
Lanark Ontario Provincial Policerecognize Neighbourhood Protect as great neighbourhood watch tool. "#LanarkOPP are happy to support the Town of #carletonPlace and http://neighbourhoodprotect.ca in their endeavors to keep our communities safe. Check out the new sign in the Patterson Crescent area of Carleton Place and the website for further info on a watch program in your area."
The Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (Toronto) are members of Neighbourhood Protect. They state, "There is also a site called Neighbourhood Protect that connects with the Toronto Police Service so you can receive and view up-to-date crime reports."
North Dundas Ontario Provincial Policementioned Neighbourhood Protect when responding to questions about crime in the Chesterville area by stating, "The OPP was contacted for comment and issued the following statement: 'The OPP always encourages victims of property crime to report it by calling the non-urgent number 1-888-310-1122, or for emergencies, 911, and never leave valuables in plain view or in a motor vehicle. A community can also initiate a neighbourhood watch program by contacting neighbourhoodprotect.ca.'".
Crimestoppers allows you to submit tips anonymously to the police. There is no communication with your neighbours; no soliciting of
video from your neighbours to help solve a crime. Some Crimestoppers may offer a news letter email service but these tend to be emailed out
once a month or every other month. This information is then too old for neighbours to check their video as it will likely be
overwritten by then. It is a general news letter only. Crimestoppers is a great resource but it is not neighbourhood watch.
Camera registries allow the police to look up who has security cameras. Members cannot post images/video to these registries, so the police
cannot know if your cameras actually recorded anything until they contact you and you won't know to check your video until the
police decide to contact you. A good resource, but still not neighbourhood watch.
Neighbourhood Protect allows you to post images anonymously as well. This then informs your neighbours that a crime has occured
and to check their video as well. Neighbourhood Protect encourages proactive participation from all member neighbours, potentially
locating more video than waiting for the police to contact each neighbour individually and perhaps missing neighbours who live a little
further away but may have still recorded something of value. This inclusive communication is what neighbourhood watch is about.
Where We Are
Select your province, then region and city. A list of neighbourhood watch(es) will appear for each city.
If you find a NW group in your area, consider joining and growing that watch - strength in numbers. If there are no NWs in your area
and you would like to improve the security in your neighbourhood, then perhaps start one yourself.
