Neighbourhood Watch scheme

Tu Tangata, Issue 16, 1 March 1984, Page 37

Neighbourhood Watch scheme

“Ka kotahi tatau, ka tu, ka ora! “Ka wehewehe tatau, ka moe, ka mate!

W. Kerekere. 0.8. E. J.P.

The Neighbourhood Watch scheme, launched several years ago, has proved so successful in alerting Police to possible criminal activities that it will continue to be actively promoted in 1984.

Says Inspector Tom Nunan, the officer responsible for Police Headquarters liaison with Crime Prevention officers throughout New Zealand, “Since Neighbourhood Watch groups became established we have had a noticeable increase in reports of suspicious activities relating to dwelling places. Burglary and theft from people’s homes have not risen at the same rate as other forms of crime.”

Inspector Nunan points out that there is no way of telling just how many householders have been saved from burglary and vandalism by the scheme.

“If would-be thieves or burglars see a Neighbourhood Watch Sticker on a house, they are very likely to try some other unprotected property. They know quite well that if that sticker is there one of the neighbours could see them and ring the Police, to report a stranger apparently up to no good. I would most seriously advise any householders who have not already formed a Neighbourhood Watch Group to get one going as soon as possible. The Police can’t keep an eye on every house all the time. A properly organised Neighbourhood Watch Group can”.

Inspector Nunan emphasises that the scheme is not an invitation for neighbours to ‘snoop’ on each other. It is purely a method to make it easier for householders to protect each other’s properties. Do-it-yourself crime prevention.

The sign-off line in the current publicity says ‘Neighbourhood Watch thieves hate it!’ They have every reason to!