Make it Your Mission to Keep our Neighborhoods Safe!

Editor's note: Wendy Bucknum is running for city council in 2012.

With the weather warming up, why not take some time to get out in this nice weather and take a walk around your neighborhood and just get reconnected with your neighbors again? I recently spoke at a Mission Viejo City Council meeting urging residents to reinstitute their neighborhood watch or reconnect with their neighborhood watch block captains. We are one of the safest cities in the country and we want to keep it that way.

The Neighborhood Watch program is a wonderful way to stay connected all year with your neighbors and watch out for each other with the help of our Mission Viejo Crime Prevention team. All this keeps our neighborhoods safe from strangers and not at all desirable for criminals, including vandals. 

To join the Neighborhood Watch program or for more information, contact the Mission Viejo Crime Prevention Office at (949) 470-8433 or by e-mail at crimeprevention@cityofmissionviejo.org. Speak to Paula Monical to find out how to reinstitute your neighborhood watch and how you can establish a Neighborhood Watch program and block captain.

Paula told me that they conduct a two-meeting training for your neighborhood (and even supply the flyers!) and will educate and provide pointers on how to enhance the safety of your home and neighborhood.

Head to the city website and go to the Neighborhood Watch section which says:

"The Orange County Sheriff's Department strongly encourages its residents to participate in Neighborhood Watch programs as a means of increased communication and education. It is the most effective means to substantially reduce residential burglaries and other crimes in your community. By participating in a Neighborhood Watch program, you will be working in cooperation with the Orange County Sheriff's Department."

Make it your mission to keep our neighborhoods safe!