In 1984, the National Crime Prevention Council designated October Crime Prevention Month. Every year since then, government agencies, civic groups, schools, businesses and youth organizations have reached out to educate the public on crime and crime prevention methods. Crime prevention involves any activity by an individual or group, public or private, which attempts to eliminate crime prior to it occurring or before any additional activity results.
There are numerous ways to get involved in National Crime Prevention Month, not only during the month of October but all year long.
- Get to know your neighbors: Introduce yourself to those around you, participate in neighborhood events, and keep an eye out for anything unusual. Know and understand what is happening in your neighborhoods and learn to see and hear things that are out of place or unusual.
- Make your home a safer place: Simple measures like installing strong locks, using outdoor lighting, and keeping valuables out of sight can deter crime. We strongly recommend using a camera or camera systems on and around your property. There are dozens of options on these systems and are now less expensive than they used to be and easy to use.
- Support local organizations: Many community groups are dedicated to crime prevention through programs like youth mentoring, community policing initiatives, and neighborhood watch programs. Get involved where you can.
- Be informed: Stay updated on local crime statistics and crime prevention tips. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is an excellent resource for information and programs for Nationwide trends and statistics. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office publishes an annual report of activity every year in the first quarter and archived versions can be found on our website at www.casssheriff.com