Worship Watch crime prevention program targets faith community
The
Fairfax County Police Department is launching a program aimed at preventing
crime at houses of worship by encouraging congregants to be more vigilant.
Fairfax County Police Department is launching a program aimed at preventing
crime at houses of worship by encouraging congregants to be more vigilant.
Worship
Watch is modeled after Neighborhood Watch, a crime-prevention program that encourages residents to be observant of their
surroundings and report suspicious activity.
Watch is modeled after Neighborhood Watch, a crime-prevention program that encourages residents to be observant of their
surroundings and report suspicious activity.
The
public is invited to a free workshop on Worship Watch on Saturday, Feb. 28, 8
a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government
Center Parkway, Fairfax, Room 102 C. One of the presenters will be crime
prevention officer Brendan Murphy of the Mason Police District.
Workshop
attendees will learn about crime prevention, facility security assessments, evacuation
plans, and how to receive crime alerts and community information. If you’re
interested in attending, RSVP to Reston Crime Prevention Officer Katy Defoe at [email protected].
attendees will learn about crime prevention, facility security assessments, evacuation
plans, and how to receive crime alerts and community information. If you’re
interested in attending, RSVP to Reston Crime Prevention Officer Katy Defoe at [email protected].
Worship Watch has proven effective in Prince William
County, she said, “so we’re integrating it into our repertoire,” Defoe says. Houses
of worship are not immune to criminal activity, and have been subject to larceny,
burglary, vandalism, and arson – although she says there hasn’t been a recent increase in these crimes.
County, she said, “so we’re integrating it into our repertoire,” Defoe says. Houses
of worship are not immune to criminal activity, and have been subject to larceny,
burglary, vandalism, and arson – although she says there hasn’t been a recent increase in these crimes.
I'd like to know more: though this article says there have been no recent increases in crime on church/house of worship property, why is this interest arising now? What's the antecedent?
I know at AUMC we have had many break in over the last three to four years.