There are many benefits in becoming a member of the Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch. Among them are:
Of course you can help! Our members are of every age group, income bracket, race and gender. Anybody 18 years and older can join Neighbourhood Watch.
We act as “eyes and ears” only for the police. As a neighbourhood watch member you are not expected to intervene in any dangerous situations.
You can volunteer to do patrols day or night, weekdays or weekends. A lot of our members run their own businesses, consultancies and guesthouses and still take the time to look after YOUR house! Patrol times are flexible and you can choose when it suits you. Give something back to your community.
Why don’t you patrol with your husband as a team? Or patrol with a friend while your spouse takes care of the kids, and then swap out on the next duty and let him or her patrol with a friend. And you’re not alone - Watchcon is only a call away.
You’re never too old! Many of our members are pensioners, even in their 80s and 90s, and some are extremely active in both patrolling and administrative roles.
Neighbourhood Watch helps to maintain the status of your area by discouraging crime in other parts of the valley. Living in a secure estate is no guarantee that you won’t be a victim of crime. It’s not only about your walled complex - Neighbourhood Watch is about the neighbouring areas too!
You’re very lucky, but that’s no guarantee that it will always be like that. As time progresses your odds are reducing at a fast pace. Perpetrators of home attacks and burglaries have become more brazen.
Crime isn’t “down” - sometimes it merely moves to adjacent suburbs that are considered easier targets. We’re being watched, and when things lighten up, crime will move back into Hout Bay due to our complacency.
Most of us don’t either - you’re not expected to “provide protection”, we merely need your eyes and your ears.
Yes... and they do. But they’re also struggling with reduced budgets, insufficient manpower and inadequate equipment, so they sometimes find it difficult to be everywhere at once.
A number of our members serve with community service-based organisations and institutions. Being involved takes up little of your time and you can choose when to spend that time. Neighbourhood Watch is not just about protecting the community but also yourself and your loved ones.
While you’re away your neighbours look after your property. So any help you can give us while you’re here is much appreciated.
The Neighbourhood Watch isn’t a social club – but you get to know your neighbours and you can decide just how much socialising you want to do. You can choose your own level of involvement.