We have spoken to many other neighborhoods in our city who have employed private security patrols. They found that patrols are successful in deterring crime, and we are confident that the current patrol is having an effect. Our patrol regularly reports encounters with cars entering the neighborhood at odd hours that immediately then exit when they see the private patrol car.
No measure can completely prevent all crime, but reports from other neighborhood groups, and reports from our own patrol so far, show clearly that private patrol does reduce crime.
The patrol operates in our neighborhood 6 hrs/day, 7 days/week. We have chosen the hours of patrol based on when most incidents have occurred and when the fewest of us are active in the neighborhood and able to monitor activity ourselves.
The patrol officer drives through the entire GANC neighborhood multiple times during the patrol time. They also, at times, park and monitor at neighborhood locations that give them the best view of incoming traffic or individuals. The patrol car always operates with flashing yellow lights on top of the car so that:
Neighbors encountering the car know that they have good company, and
Bad guys encountering the car know that they're being watched.
Patrol company has a list of paying “subscribers” - neighbors who have contributed funds to these neighborhood security projects. These contributors have access to specific services during the contracted security hours:
Neighbors who have contributed can call patrol company directly to have them come check their home if they are concerned about a security issue, like a stranger in their yard or someone prowling around their car in the driveway.
Contributors can arrange for patrol company to check on their homes when the owners are away.
Contributors can ask patrol company to safely engage with suspicious persons, to either confirm without confrontation that they have a legitimate reason to be in the neighborhood or deter them if they do not.
Patrol officers (during patrol hours) will move delivered packages closer to the contributing neighbor's door or at least over a fence to better hide them from street view. They will also notify neighbors of open garage doors or other open doors visible from the street, or any other suspicious situation.
Contributors can get an Patrol sign to post in front of their home by emailing the Safer GANC board, safergancboard@googlegroups.com .
Noncontributors do not get these and other added services, but patrol company would call the police for noncontributors, if warranted.
When property crime is seen, patrol company will observe, record with camera phone, notify the police, and safely confront the perpetrators. Patrol officers are trained to observe and report, and trained to not engage if it would likely aggravate or elevate the threat to the officer or the neighborhood. Usually the presence of the patrol officer stops or ends the property crime, and the burglars/robbers leave once they see the officer.
Patrol company hires officers with varying backgrounds suitable to the patrol responsibilities. Most of their patrol officers stay with patrol company for long periods of time, enabling them to integrate with the communities. This allows them to serve and develop a sense of responsibility and camaraderie with the neighbors, often going above and beyond to protect people and property in their areas.
Patrol company believes that unarmed patrol provides enough of a deterrent to address the vast majority of criminal activity. Patrol company also believes that once potential criminals become aware that a neighborhood has security, they likely go to another neighborhood or city. Other neighborhood groups agree that unarmed patrol is the right measure and have successfully leveraged similar services.