LIHU‘E — While a burglary-free community might be an unrealistic goal, it is what the Neighborhood Watch program strives to accomplish — and with noted success. In Birmingham, Ala., for instance, 12 of 15 neighborhoods became burglary-free after establishing the
LIHU‘E — While a burglary-free community might be an unrealistic goal, it is what the Neighborhood Watch program strives to accomplish — and with noted success.
In Birmingham, Ala., for instance, 12 of 15 neighborhoods became burglary-free after establishing the program. All but two of those communities had dealt with burglaries before, according to effectiveness studies.
Criminologists no longer study whether the national Neighborhood Watch program works, but to what degree, according to information from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.
Local law enforcement agrees.
Nearly all studies show it leads to deterrence of crime, said Lt. Dan Miyamoto, the Kaua‘i Police Department officer in the Administrative and Technical Bureau who coordinates the establishment of Neighborhood Watch programs.
“It’s not a government program. It’s a community program,” Miyamoto said recently at his KPD office.
The program works when neighbors look out for each other, call neighbors and authorities when observing or hearing what seems to be suspicious activity, and learn to mark their valuables with names and partial Social Security numbers to aid in return if those items are stolen, Miyamoto said.
There is a history of neighbors looking out for neighbors that likely dates back to life here even before the plantation camps, when Miyamoto said his mother looked out for her neighbors.
“If you know who your neighbors are,” what their vehicles look like and when they normally leave for and return from work, it’s easy to spot an out-of-place person or vehicle and either investigate or call the neighbor, Neighborhood Watch coordinators and captains and police, he said.
After a rash of home break-ins in Kalaheo, residents in neighborhoods off Waha Road banded together and some of them actually approached those in suspicious vehicles and asked if they could help them, Miyamoto said.
Since bad guys and gals don’t like to be seen or heard, if that driver had illegal intentions, it’s likely he or she found a different neighborhood to visit, he said.
“Most times they’re going to be moving on.” If crooks know a neighborhood is organized they’ll most likely stay away, he said.
“Main thing is communication,” and encouraging neighbors to be on guard for suspicious noises as well as vehicles and people, get accurate descriptions of such, and license plate numbers when possible, Miyamoto said.
Look out for neighbors, put identifying marks on personal property, and install Neighborhood Watch signs with assistance from the county Public Works Department, he said.
Lots of Neighborhood Watch leaders put together their own neighborhood maps on computers, “because they’re more computer-saavy than me,” he said.
If continuous suspicious activity is observed, that may lead to police sting operations that might lead to apprehension of crooks, he said.
Advantages of the Neighborhood Watch program are that neighbors get to know each other, and that might be enough of a disincentive to would-be burglars, he said.
Those not establishing Neighborhood Watch programs might continue to see a rash of burglaries in their communities, like the situation that led Anahola residents to take the first steps toward establishing their Neighborhood Watch, he said. (See sidebar for more information.)
“They’re the extra eyes and ears for us because they know we can’t be everywhere,” Miyamoto said, noting that he thinks the program has been valuable.
He said part of his presentation is letting organizers know that not everyone in the neighborhood is going to be interested in participating.
“They’re tired of being a victim and they (still) don’t want to get involved,” said Miyamoto, adding that he has noticed some change their minds.
Miyamoto encourages organizers to reach out to absentee owners or managers of vacation rentals in their neighborhoods to get involved as well.
“I think it works.” Instead of just grumbling, neighbors should get together, talk, find solutions. “Whatever they want, we do,” Miyamoto said.
Those in low-crime neighborhoods should consider organizing as well, as it is better to be prepared than not, he said.
And the crime trend “never ends.” As soon as one group of criminals is taken off the streets, another comes up to take their place, he said.
Those in Neighborhood Watch programs learn when to and not to call 911, that they can report suspicious activities anonymously, how to watch from the darkness of their own homes so those outside can’t see them inside, use binoculars and otherwise be safe while trying to protect their neighborhoods from crime, and not to put themselves at personal risk, he said.
KPD Chief Darryl Perry and Deputy Chief Mark Begley are “committed” to the program, Miyamoto said.
Participants learn how to observe what is “suspicious activity,” and to deal in facts and accurate descriptions instead of rumors, he said.
There are Neighborhood Watch programs in Princeville, Kekaha, Hanama‘ulu, ‘Ele‘ele and Kapa‘a and people interested in starting up watches in ‘Aliomanu and Anahola.
In Kekaha, a Neighborhood Watch turned into a neighborhood patrol, he said.
One captain in Hanalei carries his contact sheet with him when he patrols, said Miyamoto.
“Whatever works for their group,” he said. “Each neighborhood is different.”
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
