General Neighborhood Watch
Solicitation Laws
Animal Control
Noise Ordinance
General Neighborhood Watch
What is involved in starting a neighborhood watch?
Residents will attend three meetings to become a certified C.O.P.s community. The first meeting is a Back to the Community meeting that explains what the Neighborhood Watch program is and how it works. The second meeting is the Child Abduction presentation where citizens learn how to prevent their children from becoming victims of child predators. The final meeting is a general Crime Prevention presentation that teaches you how to deter crime by using lighting, environmental design, and overall situational awareness.
What are the duties of the Liaison and the Block Captains?
The Neighborhood Watch liaison is the direct conduit between the subdivision and the Sheriff’s Office, and receives the information to forward in email or telephone to the Block Captains. The liaison will also assist the Crime Prevention Officer in scheduling the upcoming meetings.
The Block Captains are responsible for maintaining a list of the ten residents on their street and cascading information by email or telephone when received by the liaison.
How do I get residents in my neighborhood to participate?
The best method is by word of mouth or use of an existing neighborhood email list. By informing residents that they can reduce the potential of criminal acts in their neighborhood, most if not all will be willing to participate. Your Crime Prevention Officer can also help by providing flyers for upcoming meetings or speaking with Home Owners Associations on the benefits of the Neighborhood Watch program.
How many residents are required to be at the meetings?
We would like to see as many as possible at the meetings. By meeting your neighbors you will learn what is normal and what is not in the neighborhood, and be able to identify suspicious activity quickly.
Do I have to wear one of those silly T-Shirts and patrol my neighborhood with a flashlight?
No, with the advent of computers and the internet we have a much more effective communication tree through email and telephone trees.
What do I do if I see suspicious or criminal activity?
It’s simple, pick up the phone and dial 911. Give details to the 911 operator of the situation, and a Deputy will be dispatched to investigate the incident. If you are a victim of a crime, make sure you have it documented with a report, then let your Block Captain know so they can inform the liaison of the Neighborhood Watch program.
Being a certified neighborhood is great, but what else does this neighborhood watch program offer?
In addition to the three meetings required to become certified, we offer many presentations to keep you safe and informed. Some of these presentations include Women’s Self Defense, Stranger Danger for Kids, Internet Safety, Identify Theft, and Teen Driving Safety. For a full list of presentations click here.
Solicitation Laws
How do I know if a person soliciting my house is legitimate?
In Forsyth County all solicitors MUST register with the county to be issued a solicitation permit that must be displayed at all times. To see an example of a county issued solicitation permit, click here.
How can I keep solicitors out of my neighborhood?
By placing a “No Solicitation” sign at the entrance of your subdivision, this informs people that they are NOT allowed to solicit in your neighborhood even if they have a county issued solicitation permit. The only people that are excluded are non-profit organizations i.e. Boy/Girl Scouts or church groups etc.
What do I do if a solicitor is not legitimate, or tries to solicit in a “No Solicitation” neighborhood?
If a person knocks on your door with county issued solicitation permit, let them know that this is a no solicitation neighborhood. If they continue to solicit or do not have a county issued solicitation permit call 911 and a Deputy will come out to investigate the situation.
Where can I find the laws concerning solicitation?
Click here to see the current solicitation laws
Animal Control
Where can I find the laws concerning animal control?
Click here to see the current animal control laws
Noise Ordinance
Where can I find the laws concerning noise ordinances?
Click here to see the current noise ordinances
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