Plaza Midwood Neighborhood

What is a Neighborhood Watch?

Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Watch The Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association actively pursues a safe, responsibile living environment by supporting our law enforcement officers and their efforts. To put as many “eyes on the street” as possible, we also support and facilitate an active Neighborhood Watch effort. Anchored by grid-captains, the network sets up phone trees and email lists that help Plaza Midwood stay better in touch with each other and get the word out about suspicious activity.

Three Goals of a Neighborhood Watch Program

Build a partnership with the community to reduce crime and improve livability.
Instill a greater sense of security while reducing the fear of crime.
Create a strong sense of community and put the “neighbor” back in neighborhood.

National Night Out is Tuesday, August 5

Plaza Midwood is Proudly Supporting America's Night Out Against Crime!

The "25th Annual National Night Out", a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2008. Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 34 million people participated in National Night Out 2007.

Contact your Plaza Midwood Watch grid leader today and take to the streets on August 5. If you do not know who your grid leader is, email your name and address to pmnwatch@aol.com and they will contact you. The schedule of events is below. Even if you can't get out and participate, all neighbors are being asked to turn on their porch lights to let others in the neighborhood know that we are coordinating and committed to protecting our neighborhood.

Night Out Schedule:

6:00 - 7:00pm

Meet at Kilgo Methodist Church on Belvedere. Festivities to include:

Picnic on the Church Lawn

- If you are not inclined to prepare one yourself, make sure to pick up a picnic dinner from Something Classic!
Web Site Picnic Menu 704.377.4202

Visits from Police Cruiser and Fire Engine
- Crews will be present unless called away on emergency

Register for Door Prizes

- Prizes include Target Gift Card, Gift Certificate for a Picnic for Two from Something Classic, Italian Feast Gift Basket, Car Care Gift Basket and a Personal Safe
- Drawing at Midwood Baptist between 8-9 pm, must be present to win

Snacks and Drinks provided by Kildgo UMC

Other Goodies handed out for children and adult participants

7:00 - 8:00pm

We will walk the neighborhood to show solidarity and help spread awareness about PM efforts to control crime.

8:00 - 9:00pm

Grid Captains bring their groups to Midwood Baptist on Mecklenburg to conclude the nights festivities with the drawing for the door prizes. Refreshments will be provided.

Neighborhood Watch Meetings

The neighborhood-wide watch meetings and crime updates are held prior to each Quarterly Association Meeting, which are on the 4th Thursday of the month in January, April, July and October in the basement of the Kilgo Church. The Neighborhood Watch meeting is at 6:30pm and the Quarterly Association Meeting begins at 7pm.

In addition, Block Captains organize monthly meetings to exchange ideas and information among the group.

How can I help?

An organized Neighborhood Watch program is a big step towards making Plaza Midwood a safer place to live and work. However, these efforts require a commitment from the entire community – businesses and residents. If you are interested in helping your neighbors to control crime in our area, please e-mail pmnwatch@aol.com to get in touch with your neighborhood watch officers and your grid captain. In addtion, it is important that everyone follow these simple rules and responsibilities:

Don’t be a victim.

Protect yourself, your home, your property, and your vehicle.
Have a security inspection done by law enforcement professionals.
Upgrade doors, locks, hardware and outdoor lighting.
Keep valuables secure.
Lock doors and windows and set your security system when leaving.
Mark valuable property and record serial numbers.

Be a good neighbor.

Get to know the people who live near you.
Have a way to contact neighbors and one for them to get back in touch with you.
Watch out for suspicious activity at neighbors’ homes and ask them to do likewise for you.
Attend the quarterly Neighborhood Watch meetings.

Report any and all suspicious activity.

Call 911.
Call 311.
Share information with your neighbors and block captain.
Calling your block captain is NOT calling 911. 911 should always be the first call!

Block Captains’ Responsibilities

Serve as a liaison between your neighbors and the Neighborhood Watch coordinators.
Establish a phone or email “communication chain” for neighbors on your block/in your grid.
Create and maintain a block map with current contact information for your neighbors.
Share information such as safety and security guidelines and reports of suspicious or criminal activity.
Visit new neighbors and encourage them to participate in the Neighborhood Watch Program.
Serve as a resource or point of contact for your neighbors.*

*From “Neighborhood Watch: A Manual for Citizens and Law Enforcement” by the National Sheriffs Association and “Establishing a Neighborhood Watch in Your Community” by CMPD.

Neighborhood Watch Contacts

Neighborhood Watch Coordinator

Robert Willis

CMPD Community Coordinators:

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Community Crime Response Team
Eastway Division, CMPD

Supervisors: