Division of Police

Neighborhood Block Club Program

Neighborhood Block Club Primer

A Block Club Should Have:
  • A core group of neighbors willing to work together.
  • A telephone chain and e-mail addresses that alert the neighbors to what is happening on the block.
  • A map of the block, apartment building, or complex showing the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of each home or apartment
  • Two block captains elected by the group to keep the membership list up-to-date and to call frequent meetings.
  • Contact with Block Club office or Neighborhood Mini Station officers.
  • Friendship and trust with each other.
What Block Club Members Should be Alert To:
  • Someone running from a car or home.
  • Someone screaming. If you can’t determine what the screams are for, call the police department and report it.
  • Someone going door to door in the neighborhood or looking into windows or parked cars.
  • A person who seems to have no purpose wandering the neighborhood.
  • Any unusual or suspicious noise that you can’t explain, such as breaking glass or pounding.
  • Vehicles moving slowly, without lights, or with no apparent destination.
  • Business transactions conducted from a vehicle. This could involve the sale of drugs or stolen good.
  • Offers of merchandise at ridiculously low prices. It’s probably stolen.
  • Property carried off by persons on foot at an unusual hour or place, especially if the person is running.
  • Property being removed from closed businesses or residences known to be unoccupied.
  • A stranger entering a neighbor’s home or apartment that appears to be unoccupied.
  • A stranger in a car stopping to beckon a child.
  • A child resisting the advances of an adult.
How to Report Incidents:

The police need to have accurate information as quickly as possible about a suspicious activity or a crime in progress.

  • Give the name and identify yourself as a member of a block club.
  • Describe the event in as brief a manner as possible. Where, When, How and Who did it?
  • Tell if the crime is in progress or if it already took place.
  • Describe the suspect-what sex, race, age, height, weight, hair color, clothing accent, beard or mustache, and distinctive characteristics or clothing?
  • Describe the vehicle, if one was involved-color, make, model, year, color, license plate, special markings, dents, which way did it go
Keep Your Block Club Going and Growing:

Just because crime declines, don’t let your block club die. Stay alert and aware, be neighborly, and look to other activities to enhance community safety and well-being.

  • Organize citizen patrols to walk around streets or apartment complexes and alert police to crime and suspicious activity.
  • Organize meetings that focus on current issues such as isolation of the elderly, drug abuse, crime in schools, after school programs, child safety and victim services.
  • Publish a newsletter that gives local crime news, recognizes block captains and other persons who have helped the police by reporting and highlights community activities.
  • Make a resource list of your block club of numbers to call for emergencies, child abuse, victim services, lighting, street repairs, youth activities, etc.
  • Work with local building code officials to get unsafe buildings boarded up or repaired.
  • Organize a community clean-up day.
  • Start a Safe Home Program for children.
  • Don’t forget events like a Fourth of July picnic or a pot luck dinner that gives neighbors a chance to get together