• Neighborhood watches are an effective crime prevention tool.neighborhood watch poster image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  The neighborhood watch has proved to be one of the most effective neighborhood crime prevention programs in the United States. It was first launched in 1972 by the National Sheriffs' Association. It is based on the concept of educating and empowering citizens to come together to make their neighborhoods a safer place to live, according to the USAonWatch website. Neghborhood Link National Network reports that there are many benefits to having a neighborhood watch.
  
  

Improved Sense of Community

• In a neighborhood watch, neighbors meet and get to know each other, which brings together the community and creates a sense of shared responsibility for the area.
  
  

Increased Confidence

• Knowing that neighbors are working together and looking out for each other helps to create a feeling of safety and confidence in the community.
  
  

Citizen Empowerment

• A neighborhood watch gives the citizens control over their neighborhoods and instills a sense of community empowerment.
  
  

Improved Quality of Life

• A reduced crime rate and increased confidence in the ability to deter crime prevention helps to improve the overall quality of life for families in the neighborhood.
  
  

Home and Property Protection

• Families can learn security methods to better protect their homes and property from crime through advice from and meetings with knowledgeable security professionals.
  
  

Knowledge of Crime Prevention Methods

• Citizens learn crime prevention measures, such as having a network of on-call cell phone contacts, which help to protect the entire neighborhood from different kinds of criminals.
  
  

Citizen Training

• Members of the community benefit from learning to identify and report any suspicious activities within their neighborhood.
  
  

Resource Education

• Citizens learn about what resources and services are available to the community in the event of a crime.
  
  

Partnership with Law Enforcement

• A neighborhood watch promotes a partnership with the local enforcement agency by allowing citizens and law enforcement to stand together against crime.
  
  

Proven Effective Crime Prevention

• A neighborhood watch is a proven effective crime prevention program that not only reduces crimes such as burglary and drug dealing, but other types of criminal activity as well.