Crime Spotters Crime Prevention The systematic organization of a variety of local neighborhoods and businesses, to help them assist our agency with the overall reduction of crime. This is accomplished through specially trained crime prevention officers assisting community groups in crime prevention education and reporting techniques. Residential Watch A neighborhood where people are alert to the potential of crime and willing to look out for one another's interests is a neighborhood where crimes are least likely to occur. Crime Spotters Neighborhood Watch signs serve notice to potential criminals that someone is watching them. Neighborhoods who actively participate in the program may post signs throughout their community. Requirements • 50 percent of households in your neighborhood must agree to participate in Crime Spotters Neighborhood Watch. • Your neighborhood must have an active Chairperson to act as a liaison to the Police Department. • Your Crime Spotters Neighborhood Watch group will hold at least two meetings annually and have at least 50% participation in order to be considered an active group. Apartment Watch The same as Residential Watch, except with the following requirements: Requirements • The apartment complex must participate in an on-site security survey of the common areas. • Display a Crime Spotters Neighborhood Watch sign at your location. • Your Crime Spotters Neighborhood Watch group will hold at least two meetings annually. Business Watch Designed for business owners who are interested in reducing crime. Participants will be signed for Fax Alert (detailed below). Businesses are required to receive a comprehensive security survey detailing security recommendations. After completion of the security survey, businesses should display a decal showing their active participation in the program. School Watch Designed for residents and educators in Coconut Creek, the Watch will post signs in and around the campus of participating schools. Requirements • Your group must hold at least one faculty meeting discussing crime prevention and safety information each year. • Participate in a school-wide security survey. • Display a Crime Spotters School Watch sign at your location. Home Security Surveys A state certified crime prevention practitioner will visit your home or business and do a complete free security inspection. Combat Auto Theft A city-wide campaign to Combat Auto Theft (C.A.T.), the program reduces the risk of auto theft and is offered to residents free of charge. Designed for individuals who are not normally on the roads between the hours of 1-5 am, the hours during which many vehicles are stolen. Participating residents display a C.A.T. program decal on the rear window of their vehicle to notify police of participation in the program. When an officer observes a participating vehicle on the roadway between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., the police officer has legal cause to stop the vehicle. The officer then has the opportunity to question the driver as to their identity. Every thirty seconds a car is stolen in the United States. More than one million vehicles are stolen each year in the United States. 40 percent of the stolen cars have keys in the ignition 80 percent of the stolen cars were left unlocked.