Neighborhood Watch Works in Beaumont

By The City of Beaumont

On April 23, 2015 Officers from the Beaumont Police Department responded to the Three Rings Community regarding a past residential burglary investigation. This particular community participates in the Neighborhood Watch program. During the investigation, Officers obtained a license plate from an observant resident. Additionally, another resident of the community was able to provide residential video surveillance of the same suspect vehicle. Members of the Three Rings Community also posted a still image of the vehicle on their community website.

A resident of the Three Rings Community associated with the Neighborhood Watch program saw the posted still photo of the suspect vehicle online. On April 24, 2015 this resident saw the suspect vehicle on the I-10 Freeway near Highway 111 and called this agency. The California Highway Patrol and Beaumont Police Officers responded and located the vehicle in question. Ultimately, a suspect was arrested and property from the burglary was recovered.

There are obvious benefits Neighborhood Watch volunteers and their communities have experienced throughout the years such as a reduction in crime, a better quality of life, a greater sense of security, responsibility, and personal control, building community pride and unity, preparing for helping others and ourselves in our community, providing law enforcement agencies with volunteer support year round, becoming the extra “eyes and ears” of law enforcement personnel and therefore reduce law enforcement‘s burden. As a reminder, the Police Department reminds Neighborhood Watch members to not take direct action to apprehend a criminal themselves but to immediately call 911.

Neighborhood Watch is one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce fear in your neighborhood. Neighborhood Watch Programs fight the isolation and separation that crime creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents and businesses, helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between police and the communities they serve.

The investigation is currently on-going and is being investigated by the Beaumont Police Department. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the on-duty Watch Commander of the Beaumont Police Department at (951) 769-8500. Information can also be sent to crimetips@beaumontpd.org or reported anonymously to WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME.