The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to get involved in forming their own neighborhood Block Watch program.

“We want to revitalize the neighborhood watch program,” MCSO Capt. Hank Brandimarte said. “We want to re-engage with the community and have the community re-engaging with MCSO.”

Block Watch is a citizen directed program with law enforcement available for support and education, according to Brandimarte.

“This allows citizens to take ownership of what is happening in their part of town,” he said. “It is a good way to establish communication between neighbors.”

Interested individuals should gauge 10 to 15 households to see if there is sufficient interest in organizing a group. A Block Watch captain would oversee the organization of the group.

If there is interest, a neighborhood representative may contact the MCSO substation in town and talk with Sgt. Mike Lawson or Deputy Robert Palumbo to arrange for a Block Watch meeting. They will meet with the group to go over organization and the support that MCSO can offer. The number to call is 602-876-1869.

“We can offer classes that cover identity theft, scams, home security and cybercrimes as well as issues specific to the neighborhood.” Brandimarte said.

Block Watch groups are only required to meet together once each year, but Brandimarte said the Sheriff’s Office recommends quarterly, and the meetings can be social gatherings in the form of a potluck dinner or a neighborhood barbecue.

The Block Watch captain would develop a contact list for the participants. Residents can keep an eye out for any unusual or suspicious activity and can report it to the captain, or directly to MCSO.

Brandimarte noted that an individual simply being present, either walking or riding a bike through a neighborhood, does not constitute suspicious activity.

“If they are looking into vehicles or walking up to doors or checking mailboxes, that is suspicious and we want to check it out,” Brandimarte said.

MCSO is suggesting that people act as additional eyes and ears for law enforcement in the community.

“We have 22 square miles to cover with just four deputies on at any given time,” Brandimarte said. “We need those extra eyes and ears.”