Lower Seeks More Eyes and Ears to Report Crime

VILLAS — Lower Township police and Township Council are revitalizing Neighborhood Watch to supply law enforcement with many eyes and ears in the community.
Mayor Michael Beck, told an audience of about 50 residents at a Town Watch meeting May 13, the program helps the police and their neighbors.
“No matter how many police officers you have, it’s not going to be enough,” he said. “The neighborhood has to get involved.”
Beck, who served 25 years as police lieutenant in Philadelphia, said the township has an existing Town Watch program it wants to strengthen.
Lower Township Police Captain Brian Marker introduced the public to a new Web-based service that will allow citizens to receive automatic updates on a daily, weekly or monthly basis via email when police activity occurs near their home, office or child’s school.
The Web site: www.crimereports.com provides a map of the U.S.. Residents can click on New Jersey and then click on Lower Township and type in the area of the township where they wish to view recent police activity.
According to Lower Township Police Chief Edward Donohue, the police department has participated in Neighborhood Watch Program for years and holds semi annual meetings.
Donohue has established a Safe Neighborhood Tip Line where residents may call with information regarding criminal activity. Messages can be left anonymously at 886-1619 ext 156.
Marker reminded residents to make it tough on burglars by:
• Upgrading locks, lighting and installing alarms if possible.
• Training family members to keep valuables secure and to lock doors and windows when leaving the house.
• Asking neighbors to watch for suspicious activity when their house is vacant.
• Marking valuable property with an identifying number such as a driver’s license number with an engraving tool.
• Keeping shrubbery trimmed near doors and windows.
• Having a neighbor bring in mail and newspapers when you are on vacation.
• Installing new locks when moving into an apartment or previously owned home.
• Starting a buddy system with a neighbor to watch each other’s homes. Watch for movers or repair persons a when no one is home.
• Identifying your neighborhood with Neighborhood Watch decals and signs.
• Using the police department’s property check program when you plan to be away at length.
Marker advised residents to be tuned into their surroundings and be observant of unfamiliar persons or vehicles in their neighborhood. He said residents should not let persons into their home they do not know without seeing identification.
“Trust your instincts,” said Marker.
Beck asked if residents could call police without giving their name to prevent it from being reported to the source of their trouble. Marker said while communications officers are trained to ask lots of questions, residents can tell the dispatcher they are calling anonymously.
Residents may also request that an officer not come to their home or give their address over police radio.
Marker advised residents when observing suspicious activity to be specific and write down details such sex, race, age, build and clothing, direction of travel and license plate numbers.
Beck, who lives near Mulligan Field, said he keeps binoculars handy to observe activity in the park.
Marker said residents should not confront suspicious persons or take action themselves.
He said the township has curfews for young people. Those under 14 years old should be off the streets between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Teens 14 to 17 years old have a curfew of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. September 15 to May 14 and from midnight to 6 a.m. from May 15 to September 15, he said.
For homes where drug activity is suspected, Marker advised residents to call police.
“We don’t ask you to become a secret agent but we do ask you to become involved by giving us some basic, initial information,” he said. “We’ll take it from there.”