Jaqueline Murdoch of Etobicoke, Ont., started a neighbourhood-watch group after she and a friend foiled thieves who had robbed on her street.SIMON WILLMS/The Globe and Mail
Jaqueline Murdoch, a retired fitness instructor in Etobicoke, Ont., was having a cup of tea with a neighbour when two men suddenly appeared in her backyard. When she asked if they needed help, the men ran out to the street and jumped into a car parked nearby.
Murdoch's friend had spotted the unfamiliar car on her way over, thought it was odd and jotted down the license plate. Thanks to that license number, it didn't take the police long to recover the jewellery and electronics the men had stolen from another neighbour's house down the road.
"The police can't be everywhere," Murdoch says. "They just don't have the tools or the manpower — and that's why it's up to the community to help. Sometimes it's just a matter of being observant."
Three years ago, Murdoch started a neighbourhood-watch group that began with a handful of people and "grew like topsy." Now, there are more than 170 members who have helped deter vandals, ended a string of break-and-enters and even prevented fraud.
"A neighbour saw a man he didn't recognize enter an elderly women's home, so he followed to discover the man ordering her to pay $100 for a roof repair that hadn't happened," Murdoch says. But, she adds, you don't need a dedicated group to make a difference. "All you have to do is get to know your neighbours."
Sergeant Brian Montague of the Vancouver Police Department agrees. "Anytime you have people looking out for their neighbours, it lowers the crime rate in the community," he says. "There's no budget in the world that can let police be everywhere, so we rely on the public to be our eyes and ears." Here are three things he recommends doing to help keep your community safe:
Get to know your neighbourhood
Figuring out what's normal means you'll notice when something isn't right, Montague says. "In my community, I know what car should be in my neighbour's driveway and if I see something different, I'll ask myself, 'Is somebody home? Is this normal? Should I give my neighbour a call?'"
Montague says often when something is amiss, it will be obvious — an unattended bag, someone peering into parked cars or going house to house. But other times, it's harder to quantify. "You might just have a gut feeling that someone is acting out of the ordinary, or something just feels off. Always trust your gut."
Many criminals depend on the fact that neighbours don't know one another and wouldn't be able to pick out someone who doesn't belong in the area, adds Alex Papatchidis, staff criminologist at Safe City Mississauga in Mississauga, Ont. "We all have a part to play in keeping our neighbourhoods safe, and coming together is the first step." He says a local BBQ or potluck is an excellent way to get to know everyone. "People are more willing to help one another when they break down social barriers — and to report suspicious activity even when it doesn't directly affect them."
Make like you're home
"You can walk down almost any street in any neighbourhood and tell right away whether someone's home," Montague says. If you're going out of town, he recommends letting a neighbour know whether you're expecting anyone, and asking them to call you or the police if they notice anything strange. You can also get them to pick up your mail and newspaper, adjust your blinds or put your garbage out.
Montague says it's also a good idea to make it look as though someone is home in the evenings by putting lights on a timer and installing a motion sensor for exterior lights. "Consider trimming back bushes or plants so your neighbours can see your home — and so there is less concealment available for thieves."
Don't be afraid to dial
When people see something suspicious, Montague says they will sometimes just brush it off, or think they're not responsible, or assume someone else will call the police. Others are simply intimidated about calling 911. Don't be, Montague says. "Anytime you see something that doesn't feel right, pick up the phone and call 911 so officers can come investigate. It can make all the difference — and it's what the police are there for."
This content was produced by The Globe and Mail's Globe Edge Content Studio, in consultation with an advertiser. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.