Home | Westminster Police Department | Community Services | Neighborhood Watch

In recent years, neighborhoods have experienced rapid changes. The old, well-established neighborhood has been replaced by a highly transient, growing community where people seek more and more privacy. This life-style tends to promote unfamiliarity with neighbors and corresponding lack of concern. Unfortunately, this enhances the opportunity for the criminal element and increases the community's vulnerability to crime.

This condition dictates the need for crime prevention program, which will enhance neighborhood security, heighten the community's power of observation and encourage mutual assistance and concern among neighbors.

The main objective of the neighborhood watch is to reduce the incidence of crime by:

1. Increasing citizen's awareness of burglary and other neighborhood crime through a continuing information program. (literature distribution)
2. Training citizens in the means of better property security and assisting them in making their property more secure. (operation identification and security surveys)
3. Developing a neighborhood action program where neighbors help watch each other's property and report suspicious persons and activities to law enforcement agencies. (neighborhood watch)
4. Encouraging all citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in reporting crime
5. Enlisting each home/ apartment/ business in operation identification

The first neighborhood watch program was developed for the westside community organization. The westside neighborhood watch patrol began patrolling on May 2001. If interested in starting a neighborhood watch program or neighborhood patrol contact Sgt. mike bible (410) 848-4646.

What is suspicious
The effectiveness of law enforcement department's crime prevention efforts is enhanced by active participation on the part of citizens. By calling to report suspicious persons or activities, you not only aid the police you make the neighborhood a safer place to live.

Some people fail to call simply because they are not aware of activities that might be suspicious. Others may notice suspicious activity and hesitate to call for fear of being labeled a "noisy neighbor" or a "crank". Still others take it for granted that someone else has already called.

Call 911 or (410) 848-4646, immediately when you observe suspicious activity. Do not worry about "bothering" us. Do not worry about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove unfounded. Think instead about what could happen if you do not act.

What you can watch for and information needed by the police to assist in making a criminal case:

  A. Suspected drug violations:

    Is there a lot of traffic in and out of a particular house?

1. Does the visitor(s) arrive empty handed and leave with some type of package after staying for a short period of time?
2. Does the visitor(s) arrive with some type of package and leave empty handed?
3. Does there appear to be someone acting as a lookout?
4. Are trips being made to and from a phone booth?
5. Are there rooms where the lights remain on all night, seven days a week?
6. Do vehicles pull up to a house and a person(s) meet them or do they go in the house for only a few minutes?

If you observe the suspicious activity listed above, there is a good chance that it may be illegal drug activity. The following is a list of things that you may try to do to assist the police department:

1. Note the time and day of the majority of traffic. (ex. Thursday, between 9pm and 11pm)
2. Name(s) or nickname(s) of any of the visitor(s) you may recognize or overhear.
3. Make, model and most important the license plate number of any vehicle(s) that are seen visiting the residence as well as any vehicle(s) that belong to the occupants of the residence in question.
4. The exact address including apartment number or the floor level.
5. Any pattern that you may notice developing.

After reporting this information, don't be discouraged if you don't see immediate results. A lot of time it takes a week to several months to make a case depending on all of the circumstances and information available.

  B. Suspected residential criminal violations:

    Someone is looking into your neighbor's window(s).

1. A car, truck or van backed up to a door or parked in the driveway that you don't recognize.
2. A suspicious vehicle that slows and drives by a house or business several times.
3. Someone is seen in an apartment or house that is to be unoccupied due to someone on vacation or having moved out.

    Be a good neighbor and report any type of suspicious activity!

  C. Suspected business criminal violations:     

1. Unusual noises coming from a business after the business has closed and employees have left. (ex. The sound of glass breaking or banging noises)
2. Person(s) hanging around a business after closing time.

All suspected criminal violations should be reported immediately by calling the Westminster police department at 410-848-4646 or 911.

When calling the Westminster police department crime and drug tips line 410-857-TIPS, you will receive a recording. At the end of the recorded message you may leave your message about a crime or drug violation(s). You may then elect to remain anonymous, or you may leave your name and phone number and someone will get back to you within several days.

If you need immediate assistance, call 410-848-4646 where you will reach a police dispatcher.

You should never feel as though you are bothering the police. We would rather be called to investigate something suspicious and find nothing, rather than to receive a call later and find that someone became a victim of a crime that may have been prevented.

Remember: you are the eyes and ears for the police and the community. We need your help to keep our neighborhoods a safe place to live and work!