Knowing your neighbor could be the difference between being robbed and keeping your things.

Several Neighborhood Watch groups across St. Joseph take pride in their efforts to protect one another from thefts and vandalism. However, many homes in St. Joseph are on their own, not under the boundaries of an official Neighborhood Watch.

St. Joseph Police Department Sgt. Greg Gilpin said eight to 10 Neighborhood Watch groups meet once a month in the city. Two more are in the process of being formed.

“The idea is to get to know your neighbor and share information,” Mr. Gilpin said. “Years ago, people would sit on their front porch and observe the world more than they do today. That’s what we’re trying to get back to.”

While Mr. Gilpin says he doesn’t train the Neighborhood Watch groups to do the work of police, he hopes the groups will be an extra set of eyes and ears.

“It comes down to the fact that the groups allow the Police Department to educate them on how we do things because it’s not like you see on TV or the movies,” Mr. Gilpin said.

The Central Neighborhood Watch Group formed just more than a year ago and is mainly residents in the area between the 2400 and 2800 blocks from Edmond to Union streets, near Central High School.

The group’s president, Danielle Hunt, says that by becoming a part of a Neighborhood Watch group, she and others have developed a higher respect and understanding for the Police Department.

“Most people in our area feel a lot safer,” Ms. Hunt said. “They feel like there is more of a watchful eye on our area.”

She likes knowing there are extra eyes and ears in her neighborhood when she is away from her home, she said.

During the group’s last meeting, Ms. Hunt was able to pass around a list of all the thefts and vandalisms in their area that had been reported to the Police Department. Members from the group were then able to discuss when and where the acts were happening. Once members knew where the crimes had occurred, they began discussing how they would watch the areas.

Mr. Gilpin says many thefts can be avoided by protecting your home.

“The warmer weather causes people to leave doors open and items outside and then be forgotten,” Mr. Gilpin said.

Locking doors and vehicles is the No. 1 way Mr. Gilpin says thefts can be avoided.

The Central Neighborhood Watch Group conducts multiple presentations involving local law enforcement to help educate the area. In August, the group will help host National Night Out, a drug and crime prevention event.

Ms. Hunt encourages residents of St. Joseph to get to know their neighbors even beyond those next door.

“Know your neighbor, know your problems in the area and talk to officers,” Ms. Hunt said. “The police can’t help you if they don’t know you have a problem.”

A map of the Neighborhood Watch groups in St. Joseph can be found on the Police Department’s Web site at www.stjoepd.info/neighborhoodwatch.com.

Megan Tilk can be reached

at megantilk@npgco.com.