Thanks to the dozen people who participated in Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association’s first Neighborhood Watch organizational meeting last night at the Hastings Ranch Library. This is the first formal step toward helping make Brigden Ranch safer.
The meeting was held to 1) start our first formal Neighborhood Watch, 2) to explain the duties of Block Captains who are needed to organize Neighborhood Watches, 3) to seek volunteers to become Block Captains, and 4) to answer general questions about crime in our neighborhood.
Anita Butler, our representative from the Pasadena Police Department, presented information about setting up Neighborhood Watches. Anita shared crime statistics which showed crime in Brigden Ranch has declined over the past three years. Anita stressed that we have a safe neighborhood with very little crime. The Sergeant from the Central Service Area, which Brigden Ranch is part of, dropped by and repeated this message. He encourage the start of Neighborhood Watches as a great way for neighbors to look after neighbors, and as a way of staying vigilant.
The first formal step in creating a Neighborhood Watch is for a person to volunteer to be a Block Captain. The Block Captain organizes a group of their neighbors, works with the police department to set up an organizational meeting like last night’s, creates phone trees, and keeps the Neighborhood Watch active. Each Neighborhood Watch is about eight to 12 homes, depending on how many the Block Captain is comfortable with.
This isn’t a lot of work, but the rewards are a safer neighborhood for all of us. I would encourage anyone who wants more information to contact me in order to set up an organizational meeting in your neighborhood.
The first formal Neighborhood Watch was started last night in the 2200 block of Casa Grande. Craig Valenzuela is the Block Captain. Anyone in that area who is interested should contact Craig at cval33440@sbcglobal.net
We want to formally thank Craig for taking this on.
If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain for another block on Casa Grande, or another street, please let me know. One other individual in the 2000 block of Galbreth has volunteered to be a Block Captain. Neighbors there will be contacted shortly.