Today, more than 16,000 communities across the country will host National Night Out events on TODAY, Aug. 1 hoping to instill confidence in their community and promote crime prevention and safety. In north College Park, the National Night Out will take place at the all new Duvall Field plaza at 7 pm- 8:30 pm.
Here are the top 5 reasons to attend today’s event. Please spread the word!
#1 Meet your local police officers. The event is designed to build bridges between the community and the police. Our officers help protect us and our families from crime. Come bring your questions about recent crime trends and how the police are responding to them and working to prevent crime in the future. Also, learn helpful tips and tricks on how to protect yourself from common types of crime.
#2 Great food! The Boy Scouts will be grilling hot dogs for sale, and we’ll have snacks and soft drinks. It should be a great evening and a great chance to meet your neighbors and get to know your local police officers!
#3 Meet your neighbors and join the Neighborhood Watch Program. According to crime statistics, crime in our area is not limited to nighttime. Not everyone can afford a home security system. Police can’t be everywhere at once and must rely on the active participation of community residents for crime prevention. Since crime is most likely to occur when no one is watching, a Neighborhood Watch team can act as an extra set of “eyes and ears” when police aren’t around. Neighborhood Watch does more than just canvass the community. It also gives residents an opportunity to get to know others in the neighborhood, open the lines of communication with local police and encourage better overall cooperation among residents in crime prevention efforts. Participation in Neighborhood Watch builds confidence and encourages residents to take an active interest in one another’s properties and livelihoods.
#4. Activities for the Whole Family! There will be fun activities for kids of all ages! We’ll have a moon bounce, face painting, snow cones and other activities, as well as a visit from our local fire department! And while you’re there, you can find out about how to protect your child with a child identification kit to help the police know who your child is if he or she gets lost.
#5 Take a stand against crime and let criminals know that our neighborhood is organized against crime. National Night Out is all about building support and increasing participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthening neighborhood spirit and improving relationships between the police department and local residents. To celebrate the nationwide event, you are encouraged to lock your, turn on your porch lights and spend the evening outdoors with your neighbors.
