The Village Watch
| "The Official Website of the Old Hickory Village Neighborhood Watch" |
The content on this site is for informational purposes
only and does not constitute legal advice!
only and does not constitute legal advice!
| Getting Started |
Get Involved!
It is our goal to get as many people as possible involved with the Neighbor-
hood Watch. It really doesn't take much time or effort; it's more of a lifestyle
adjustment. By being more alert and watching out for each other, we can
have a huge impact on the safety and well being of our neighborhood.
Criminal activity in the Village is something that should concern everyone
because it affects all of us. If everyone does their little part, we can make a
difference.
It is our goal to get as many people as possible involved with the Neighbor-
hood Watch. It really doesn't take much time or effort; it's more of a lifestyle
adjustment. By being more alert and watching out for each other, we can
have a huge impact on the safety and well being of our neighborhood.
Criminal activity in the Village is something that should concern everyone
because it affects all of us. If everyone does their little part, we can make a
difference.
Meet Your Neighbors!
The first step in becoming a good NW member is getting to know your
neighbors. With everyone's busy lifestyles this can sometimes seem
impossible, but try to make it a priority this year. Not only will your home
be safer, you will also make some great friends.
Try to get to know the people in the 2 homes to your right and 2 homes to
your left. Then work on the 3 homes across the street. If possible, exchange
phone numbers and tell them about NW and our website. This will give you
a 8 home barrier against crime that may overlap with others doing the same
thing. You can definitely expand these boundaries later and we encourage
you to do so.
Get to know your neighbors routines such as the times they usually leave
and return from work and what kind of cars they drive. It will be a lot
easier to determine if suspicious activity is taking place if you're aware of
their normal patterns.
The first step in becoming a good NW member is getting to know your
neighbors. With everyone's busy lifestyles this can sometimes seem
impossible, but try to make it a priority this year. Not only will your home
be safer, you will also make some great friends.
Try to get to know the people in the 2 homes to your right and 2 homes to
your left. Then work on the 3 homes across the street. If possible, exchange
phone numbers and tell them about NW and our website. This will give you
a 8 home barrier against crime that may overlap with others doing the same
thing. You can definitely expand these boundaries later and we encourage
you to do so.
Get to know your neighbors routines such as the times they usually leave
and return from work and what kind of cars they drive. It will be a lot
easier to determine if suspicious activity is taking place if you're aware of
their normal patterns.
Look And Listen!
Look out your windows often. Especially when you hear something out of
the ordinary. Make it a point to take a peek outside every time you get up to
go to the kitchen, bathroom, etc. It doesn't take any time or effort and helps to
seal your 8 home barrier. If you see suspicious activity or a crime taking
place, do not try to intervene. Call the police at once and call your neighbors
to let them know to be on alert!
Look out your windows often. Especially when you hear something out of
the ordinary. Make it a point to take a peek outside every time you get up to
go to the kitchen, bathroom, etc. It doesn't take any time or effort and helps to
seal your 8 home barrier. If you see suspicious activity or a crime taking
place, do not try to intervene. Call the police at once and call your neighbors
to let them know to be on alert!
Recognizing Suspicious Behavior
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND A PERSON COMMITTING A
CRIME OR INVESTIGATE A SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. Call the police or
sheriff's department immediately, and do not worry about being embarrassed
if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Law enforcement officers would
rather investigate than be called when it is too late.
The following incidents MAY indicate possible criminal activity and should
be reported:
Continuous repair operations at a nonbusiness location (stolen property being
altered);
Open or broken doors and windows at a closed business or unoccupied
residence (burglary or vandalism);
Unusual noises, such as gunshots, screaming, or dogs barking continuously
(burglary, assault, or rape);
Sound of breaking glass (burglary or vandalism);
A person exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms (person may be
injured, under the influence of drugs, or otherwise needing medical attention).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspicious Persons:
Obviously, not every stranger who comes into a neighborhood is a criminal.
Legitimate door-to-door sales and repair people appear in residential areas
frequently. Occasionally, however, criminals disguise themselves as these
workers; therefore, it is important to be alert to the activities of all
nonresidents. Law enforcement officials should be called to investigate
persons in the following circumstances, who may be suspects in the crimes
indicated:
Going door to door in a residential area, especially if one or more goes to
rear of residence or loiters in front of an unoccupied house or closed business
(burglary);
Forcing entrance or entering an unoccupied house (burglary, theft, or
trespassing);
Running, especially if carrying something of value or carrying unwrapped
property at an unusual hour (fleeing the scene of a crime);
Heavy traffic to and from a residence, particularly if it occurs on a daily
basis (drug dealing, vice or fence operation);
Screaming (rape or assault):
Loitering around or peering into cars, especially in parking lots or on streets
(car theft);
Loitering around schools, parks or secluded areas (sex offender);
Offering items for sale at a very low price (trying to sell stolen property);
Loitering or driving through a neighborhood several times or appearing as
delivery person with a wrong address (burglary).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspicious Vehicles:
Vehicles in the following situations MAY be involved in crimes and should
be reported to authorities:
Slow moving, without lights, following aimless course in any location,
including residential streets, schools, and playgrounds (burglar, drug pusher,
or sex offender);
Parked or occupied, containing one or more persons, especially at an unusual
hour (lookouts for a burglary or robbery);
Parked by a business or unoccupied residence, being loaded with valuables
(burglary or theft);
Abandoned in your neighborhood (stolen car);
Containing weapons (criminal activity);
Someone, especially a female or juvenile, being forced into a vehicle
(kidnapping, assault, or attempted rape);
Business transactions taking place in it, especially around schools or parks
(sale of stolen items or drugs);
Persons detaching mechanical parts or accessories from it (theft or
vandalism);
Objects being thrown from it (disposing of contraband).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Describing and Reporting of Events, Vehicles and Persons
Practicing to develop skill in providing quick, accurate descriptions is an
excellent NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meeting activity. In attempting to
describe events, vehicles, or persons, write down the details of what you
have observed while they are still fresh in your mind, so your descriptions to
law enforcement officials will be as accurate as possible.
When describing events, write down:
What happened;
When it happened;
Where it occurred (note the nearest cross street, home address, or landmark
in relationship to the event);
Whether injuries are involved (Be prepared to report visible or suspected
personal injury. Be as specific as possible - this could save a life!);
Whether weapons are involved (this information, whether observed or
suspected, is vital to responding officers).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Describing Vehicles:
When describing vehicles, write down:
Vehicle license number and state, make and type of vehicle, color, and
approximate age;
Special designs or unusual features, such as vinyl top, mag wheels, body
damage, pinstripes, etc.;
Direction of travel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Describing Persons:
In preparing descriptions of persons, it is important to write down the
following:
Sex;
Race;
Age;
Height (estimated from eye contact level measured against your height);
Weight;
Hair (color and length);
Hat;
Facial Hair (beard/mustache);
Shirt/tie;
Coat/jacket;
Trousers;
Shoes;
Any peculiar or distinguishable mannerisms, physical disabilities,
disfigurations, scars or tattoos;
Voice characteristics;
Direction of movement.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND A PERSON COMMITTING A
CRIME OR INVESTIGATE A SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. Call the police or
sheriff's department immediately, and do not worry about being embarrassed
if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Law enforcement officers would
rather investigate than be called when it is too late.
The following incidents MAY indicate possible criminal activity and should
be reported:
Continuous repair operations at a nonbusiness location (stolen property being
altered);
Open or broken doors and windows at a closed business or unoccupied
residence (burglary or vandalism);
Unusual noises, such as gunshots, screaming, or dogs barking continuously
(burglary, assault, or rape);
Sound of breaking glass (burglary or vandalism);
A person exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms (person may be
injured, under the influence of drugs, or otherwise needing medical attention).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspicious Persons:
Obviously, not every stranger who comes into a neighborhood is a criminal.
Legitimate door-to-door sales and repair people appear in residential areas
frequently. Occasionally, however, criminals disguise themselves as these
workers; therefore, it is important to be alert to the activities of all
nonresidents. Law enforcement officials should be called to investigate
persons in the following circumstances, who may be suspects in the crimes
indicated:
Going door to door in a residential area, especially if one or more goes to
rear of residence or loiters in front of an unoccupied house or closed business
(burglary);
Forcing entrance or entering an unoccupied house (burglary, theft, or
trespassing);
Running, especially if carrying something of value or carrying unwrapped
property at an unusual hour (fleeing the scene of a crime);
Heavy traffic to and from a residence, particularly if it occurs on a daily
basis (drug dealing, vice or fence operation);
Screaming (rape or assault):
Loitering around or peering into cars, especially in parking lots or on streets
(car theft);
Loitering around schools, parks or secluded areas (sex offender);
Offering items for sale at a very low price (trying to sell stolen property);
Loitering or driving through a neighborhood several times or appearing as
delivery person with a wrong address (burglary).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspicious Vehicles:
Vehicles in the following situations MAY be involved in crimes and should
be reported to authorities:
Slow moving, without lights, following aimless course in any location,
including residential streets, schools, and playgrounds (burglar, drug pusher,
or sex offender);
Parked or occupied, containing one or more persons, especially at an unusual
hour (lookouts for a burglary or robbery);
Parked by a business or unoccupied residence, being loaded with valuables
(burglary or theft);
Abandoned in your neighborhood (stolen car);
Containing weapons (criminal activity);
Someone, especially a female or juvenile, being forced into a vehicle
(kidnapping, assault, or attempted rape);
Business transactions taking place in it, especially around schools or parks
(sale of stolen items or drugs);
Persons detaching mechanical parts or accessories from it (theft or
vandalism);
Objects being thrown from it (disposing of contraband).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Describing and Reporting of Events, Vehicles and Persons
Practicing to develop skill in providing quick, accurate descriptions is an
excellent NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meeting activity. In attempting to
describe events, vehicles, or persons, write down the details of what you
have observed while they are still fresh in your mind, so your descriptions to
law enforcement officials will be as accurate as possible.
When describing events, write down:
What happened;
When it happened;
Where it occurred (note the nearest cross street, home address, or landmark
in relationship to the event);
Whether injuries are involved (Be prepared to report visible or suspected
personal injury. Be as specific as possible - this could save a life!);
Whether weapons are involved (this information, whether observed or
suspected, is vital to responding officers).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Describing Vehicles:
When describing vehicles, write down:
Vehicle license number and state, make and type of vehicle, color, and
approximate age;
Special designs or unusual features, such as vinyl top, mag wheels, body
damage, pinstripes, etc.;
Direction of travel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Describing Persons:
In preparing descriptions of persons, it is important to write down the
following:
Sex;
Race;
Age;
Height (estimated from eye contact level measured against your height);
Weight;
Hair (color and length);
Hat;
Facial Hair (beard/mustache);
Shirt/tie;
Coat/jacket;
Trousers;
Shoes;
Any peculiar or distinguishable mannerisms, physical disabilities,
disfigurations, scars or tattoos;
Voice characteristics;
Direction of movement.
Come to the Meetings!
The best way to stay up to date and informed (besides checking this site
every day) is to come to the meetings. They are held on the first Thursday
of the month at 6:30pm in the Community Center. It's very informal so
come as you are and bring a friend.
The best way to stay up to date and informed (besides checking this site
every day) is to come to the meetings. They are held on the first Thursday
of the month at 6:30pm in the Community Center. It's very informal so
come as you are and bring a friend.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |