Neighborhood Watch promotes neighbors helping neighbors for security and to fight against crime in the community. Neighborhoods participating in the program are identified by “Neighborhood Watch” signs that let everyone know that trained eyes are watching out for the safety of residents and their property. More information is available about this national program at http://www.usaonwatch.org.

Citizen Corps helps people learn how to make their families, homes, and communities safer from natural and man-made disasters of all kinds. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is promoting the Neighborhood Watch Program and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. These are two of the five programs under the Citizen Corps umbrella within the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness.

The goal of Citizen Corps is to strengthen the spirit of volunteerism by bringing together our emergency responders, law enforcement, and emergency managers with citizens in response to shared threats, be they earthquakes, floods, or acts of terrorism. For more information about Citizen Corps, Neighborhood Watch or CERT, you may check their website at www.citizencorps.gov. For more information about our local programs you may call 373-8822.

  Tips for Discouraging Criminals     

• Do not leave valuables visible in sight (in your house or vehicle).  A wallet, purse, cell phone, gun or jewelry near a door or window can be irresistible to a thief. 
• All entry doors to your home should be equipped with dead bolt locks. If your door has a window in it, the lock should be keyed on both sides.
• Equip your home with security lights.
• Do not leave your doors unlocked, or your house unattended, even for a short time. The thieves are opportunists who have victimized our neighbors in situations where the opportunity presented was quite brief, during the day.
• Lock all ground floor level windows at night.
• Keep a cell phone nearby to be certain you can contact law enforcement in event of an emergency.
• Be alert. If you see something suspicious, REPORT it to the police!

TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR VALUABLES

• Write down your serial numbers. So simple, yet often neglected.
• Keep a copy someplace else: bank safety deposit box, or with a trusted family member or a friend. Why? Because if you home burns, floods, or is otherwise destroyed,  your only copy will be gone too.
• Engrave your drivers license number on tools and equipment without serial numbers. This will help you identify what is yours without question.
• Photograph and/or video the items everything, especially items which don't have serial numbers or can't be engraved: jewelry, furs, china, paintings, artwork, or other heirlooms. Keep a copy on hand, and another in the bank or off site. This can help you document items to the police or insurance company in case of theft, fire, flood or other destruction.