Chair: Jeanne Gorecki
Email: watch@fawnridge.org
Deputy: Tobias Smith
Email: tasmith@teamhcso.com
7202 Gunn Highway
Tampa, FL 33625
(813) 247-0330
Neighborhood Watch is simply a program of neighbors watching other neighbors’ property. It is thousands of eyes and ears whose owners have organized together in groups to report suspicious activities or crimes to the Sheriff.
Citizen participation is one of the most effective tools against crime because the job of stopping burglary, robbery or sexual assault is impossible for the Sheriff to accomplish alone. Crime watchers are networks of neighbors trained by Crime Prevention deputies in home and self-protection, suspect identification and how to serve effectively as additional eyes and ears for law enforcement agencies in their communities.
Neighborhood Watch groups provide a way for neighbors to help one another by keeping an eye on each other’s homes and property. A telephone chain is set up to enable neighbors to keep one another informed of any criminal activity and to receive information from the Sheriff concerning descriptions of suspected criminals and other pertinent information.
When a member of a network sees a suspicious person or vehicle, he or she should call the Sheriff’s Office immediately.
Any problems which arise when instituting the Neighborhood Watch Program will be directed to and addressed by the Sheriff’s Office personnel by the Area Coordinator.
Sheriff’s deputies cannot be everywhere all of the time. Besides, even if they happen to be passing by, they cannot recognize that a car, a truck, or people do not belong in an area. However, those who live in a community will know if there are strangers in the area.
Neighborhood Watch Programs are of great help to our Sheriff’s Office. There have been many instances where good neighbors, by reporting unusual activities, have been instrumental in the apprehension of criminals.
Neighborhood Watch works through mutual aid, neighbors watching out for neighbors. Neighbors know who you are, what type of car you own, and may be the first to notice a burglar at your window or door, or a strange car in your driveway.
All Neighborhood Watch needs to be effective is an alert and aware neighborhood willing to summon the Sheriff’s Office when a crime or activity that suspects a crime is observed. Though it may be helpful, it is only necessary that you be able to direct sheriff’s deputies to an area or address where a crime is being committed or about to be committed. If your neighbor is able is able and willing to do this, your property will be protected. If only limited percentages of neighbors are alert and aware, your whole neighborhood will be protected. This is true because the criminal element will soon enough learn that your neighborhood is not ‘easy pickins’.
Well then walk from window to window where you live. You will notice that your vision can cover a considerable area. If you listed or otherwise knew the street address and directions from your residence of all that you could see, it can become easy to understand how much of your neighborhood you alone could protect!
You may become aware of something that is out of ordinary that you may feel is leading up to some type of criminal activity. This is your chance to prevent crime in your neighborhood. Remember, what is suspicious to you may not be to someone else. Don’t hesitate to call law enforcement; better safe than sorry.
7202 Gunn Highway
Tampa, FL 33625
(813) 247-0330