Residents of Geyser Crest, along with Rowland’s Hollow East, Casino Drive, The Springs, Tiffany Place and Evergreen Point are banding together to form a passive watch—meaning they will simply keep their eyes open for things that are amiss in the neighborhood.

“Neighborhood watch isn’t just looking out for crime. We are looking for things that may go wrong with a home while the resident isn’t there,” said Bill Chisham, organizer for the Saratoga Southwest Neighborhood Watch.

The watch will focus on families with small children or the elderly and has between 1,800 and 2,000 families participating. The neighborhoods are divided into 10 zones, with two coordinators per zone. If a resident notices anything that needs to be reported, they call the coordinators and the message is forwarded onto the police. Residents can also call the police directly if desired.

Likewise, residents will be informed of any activity going on in the neighborhoods, for example, registered sex offenders living in the area.

“We don’t have any big problems, but it really makes a big difference to be organized in case anything happens,” he added. “We are basically a liaison to the police.”

The Saratoga Springs Police Department is conducting training seminars for residents who become members of a neighborhood watch program also.

This program is registered with the USAonWatch, a national Neighborhood Watch organization that was formed in the wake of the terrorists attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Neighborhood Watch programs have been around long before Sept. 11, 2001, however. Colonial Americans began a town watch which ran along the same lines as today’s Neighborhood Watch and night watchmen would stay up and oversee the streets of the colonies while the rest slept.

Today, a Neighborhood Watch is a crime and problem prevention group that stresses prevention through common sense and knowledge. With proper training, residents learn how to identify and report suspicious activity without becoming a part of the activity. Neighborhood Watches are not vigilante groups—they employ strategies that focus on awareness and observation, and then report what they see.

According to USAonWatch.org, there are five steps to take to become a registered Neighborhood Watch:

• Recruit and organize as many neighbors as possible

• Contact local law enforcement agencies and schedule a meeting

• Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan

• Hold meetings and train residents

• Implement a phone tree and take action steps.

“Our members only watch and report to the Saratoga Springs Police Department. Although most of us already watch out for our neighbors, an organized group is more effective because it allows for organized communication between police and residents,” Chisham said.