Be Part of the Solution; Prevent Crime in UC

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of residents in cooperation with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) to reduce crime, solve problems and improve the quality of life in your area. You will get to know your neighbors, and learn how to:

• Recognize and report crimes and suspicious activities
• Protect yourself, your family and your property
• Protect your neighbor’s family and property
• Identify crime and disorder problems in your area and work with the SDPD personnel to solve them.

The goal is for each street in University City to have a street captain or two who will schedule a one-hour meeting in their home, backyard or driveway and invite neighbors to share safety tips and crime prevention techniques with our Community Officer Holland Tafoya. We talk about many things, including:

• Do you know why you need to lock your side gates?
• Why you need to switch to LED lights.
• What to do about solicitors, party houses, or abandoned cars?
• When do you call 911 versus the non-emergency number 619-531-2000?
• What do criminals look for?

Please email Barbara Gellman at bggellman@yahoo.com to set up a 20- minute appointment to explain the step-by-step process. Be part of the solution; it is easy and just one more step in preventing crimes and keeping our neighborhood safe.

Submitted by Barbara Gellman, UC Neighborhood Watch Coordinator. Please note: this article first appeared in the June 2015 UCCA newsletter in a slightly different format.