The Importance of Block Watch (revisited)

If you attend the Kennydale Neighborhood Association’s quarterly neighborhood meetings and/or the other events that we host throughout the year, or if you go to various events that are hosted by the City of Renton, then you most likely have seen or heard information about the City’s Block Watch Program.  If you are new to the neighborhood or have not taken the time to become informed on this very important program, here’s an easy remedy:

Go to www.rentonwa.gov and follow the path Living>Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention>Crime Prevention>Block Watch.  There’s a lot of good information there; here are some highlights of what Block Watch offers:
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· Two-way lines of communication and trust are opened up between citizens and the Renton Police Dept.
· Citizens receive reliable security information on locks, lights, physical environment etc. in order to make their properties more secure (read the list of Residential Burglary Prevention Tips that appears in this edition of the Kennydale News 
· KNA offers all Kennydale residents the ability to communicate with City officials in a unified voice about all sorts of matters that are of interest to them.  Block Watch brings this cohesive effort down to the block-by-block level, with the focus being on establishing a group effort to implement solutions for improved security that work well for your particular street.
· Citizens may request a free security survey of their homes; to set that up, or to learn how to establish a Block Watch in your neighborhood, call the Block Watch Coordinator at 425-430-7521.

KNA would like to add this thought:  Block Watch provides a comfortable means for residents to accomplish the task of getting to know the other people on your street.  It’s probably not realistic to know everybody on a first-name basis,  but do try to develop that relationship with at least both of your neighbors on either side, and with the ones directly across the street.  This can provide the foundation for a higher level of trust, and the possibility that each of you will feel more comfortable.