NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

The Barrington Hills Neighborhood Watch Program has been a joint effort between the Barrington Hills Police Department and the community since the early eighties. The program is designed to increase community awareness, enhance individual's power of observations and encourage mutual assistance and concern among neighbors in an effort to reduce crime in our community. Currently there are over fifty block captains in the Village. The program is designed to work in harmony with the philosophy of Neighborhood Based Policing, Neighborhood Watch encourages a strong working relationship between patrol officers and the citizens we protect.

The Barrington Hills Police Department's Neighborhood Watch program focuses on education. Watch groups are not vigilantes and they do not assume the role of police. Citizens are only asked to be more alert, observant, caring and to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for the police. Each block captain oversees his block and assists the police Neighborhood Watch Officer distribute flyers about crime problems and meeting dates.

The Barrington Hills Police Department encourages all residents to become involved in their block captain's activities and their community.

To become a Barrington Hills block captain please fill out the attached application and send it to the Barrington Hills Police Department .

•  Report any suspicious people or vehicles in your neighborhood by calling 9-1-1 . Even if you think it may be nothing, have it checked out by the police. CALL 9-1-1 immediately.

•  If you go out for the evening, put lights on timers, and have a radio or television on so the house or apartment appears to be occupied.

•  If possible, install motion detector lighting and/or an alarm system. The exterior of your residence should be well lit.

•  If you leave your home, make sure that all doors and windows are locked, even if you are going out for a short time. Be sure to use a good deadbolt type lock on doors. Make sure sliding glass doors are secured with a security bar.

•  Secure your valuables, document serial numbers, and photograph jewelry.

•  During the holiday season, be careful not to place gifts in windows or doorways visible from the outside.

•  Let a trusted neighbor know if you are going to be away, ask them to watch your residence. Offer to provide the same service for them.