Block Watch

Watchful neighbors working together proves to be one of the most effective ways to prevent crime in your neighborhood.

Block Watch works on the principal of NEIGHBORS WATCHING OUT FOR NEIGHBORS and making a commitment to each other to be aware of what is going on in your neighborhood; having an interest in protecting each other's property, safety and well-being; and communicating with each other and the police.

It takes very little effort to start and maintain a Block Watch group. Block Watch groups also usually make plans to help neighbors out during emergencies. Another important function of a Block Watch group is to establish and/or identify a nearby safe house.  A safe house is a place for kids to go when they feel threatened.


Steps to Forming a Block Watch
  • Decide on the area which you want included in your Block Watch
  • Contact your neighbors--invite them to attend a Block Watch meeting
  • Hold a social get-together to meet and learn more about each other
  • Discuss problems or crimes that have happened in your area
  • Select a Block Watch captain
  • Gather contact information about each neighbor to distribute to the entire Block Watch
  • Agree to keep all information confidential
  • Make sure not to use any of your neighbors information for any purpose except the neighborhood Block Watch
  • Create a map of your Block Watch area
  • Create a phone tree for calling each Block Watch neighbor
  • Determine safe houses for children
  • Make a commitment to tell a trusted neighbor when you go out of town


Many households belong to two Block Watch groups -- one for the street their house faces and the other for the street behind their homes.  Block Watch meetings may be held in someone's home or at a church, community center, library, coffee shop, a local business, etc.--wherever it is safe and convenient for you and your neighbors to meet.

The contact information you want to collect about each neighbor should include names of all family members and anyone else living in the house, all phone numbers (home, work, cell), email addresses, information about their vehicles (make, model, color), and information about pets.

When creating a map of your Block Watch,  include names and home phone numbers of each neighbor on the map; additional information may be attached to a separate sheet.  A good tool to use is the City of Seattle's "Mapping Resource" which is available at http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/maps/dpdgis.aspx  (select 'Parcels').

Explain to children how a safe house works and take kids to the safe house(s) in the Block Watch area so that they might be comfortable going there should they need to in future.


Responsibilities of a Block Watch Captain
  • Serves as a hub for incoming emails and sends emails to inform Block Watch members
  • Serves as the primary Block Watch contact with the Seattle Police for ongoing issues
  • Maintains, updates, and distributes the Block Watch map
  • Manages the submission of Block Watch members'  email and contact information
  • Finds a replacement among neighbors if one can no longer serve as Captain
Make sure to submit your contact information and email address to list@southcpc.org and Mark Solomon, a crime prevention coordinator with the SPD mark.solomon@seattle.gov.  Forward any correspondence from the South Seattle Crime Prevention Council (SSCPC) or Seattle Police Department to your neighbors.


Start Watching and Listening
  • When outside take a few seconds to look around for anything out of the ordinary
  • When you see anyone on the street wave and say "Hello" to them
  • Let people know you've seen them and are watching
  • When inside make a habit of looking out of your windows frequently
  • When you see something suspicious call 9-1-1
  • Don't hesitate to call 9-1-1 whenever you think a crime is being committed
  • Get a good look at suspicious people
  • Practice remembering what you've observed--look at someone from top to bottom
  • Write down the description of a suspicious person/people
  • Get the make, model, color, and license of a suspicious vehicle
  • Be prepared to call 9-1-1 when you see or hear any of the following takes place:
  • You see people going door-to-door without a specific purpose;
  • You see a strange vehicle parked on your street or at your neighbor's house;
  • You see vehicles driving by your block multiple times or going through an alley;
  • You see someone loitering in your neighborhood;
  • You see someone break into a home or vehicle;
  • You see someone removing items from a home or car that isn't your neighbor's car;
  • You see a beam of a flashlight inside or around your neighbor's home;
  • You see someone being forced into a car;
  • You hear someone screaming;
  • You hear glass breaking or wood being shattered.
  • Make sure when writing down a description of suspicious person/people you provide:
  • Race, sex, age, height, weight, build, hair and eye color, complexion, clothing, scars, tattoos, etc.
  • Remember, the more information you can give the better
  • Call your neighbors to alert them to what you saw
  • Report everything to your Block Watch Captain
  • Monitor, log, and report problem properties in your neighborhood to the Seattle Police and at SSCPC meetings
If there is a house where you believe the occupants are engaged in criminal activity,discuss the property with your neighbors; keep a log of suspicious activity at that address,including information about vehicles frequenting the property; and report the property and problems to the police.


Keep your Block Watch Going
  • Introduce yourselves to any new neighbors and invite them to join
  • Interact with your neighbors as much as possible
  • Get together at least once a year
  • Keep your contact information up-to-date
Remember, the better you know each other, the more likely you'll be able to prevent criminal activity in your neighborhood.
The annual "Night Out" is in August (usually the first Tuesday) and  is a great time to get together with the folks in your neighborhood.


When You Call 9-1-1
  • Remain calm.
  • Let the 911 operator control the conversation
  • Answer all questions to the best of your ability
  • If you wish to remain anonymous ask for "No Contact"
  • If you have additional information to share, provide this after the operator finishes asking questions
Asking for no contact that means an officer will not come to your home yet may call you if additional information is needed. You also have the option of being completely anonymous, but this might hinder an investigation.