City Of Leander: National Night Out

Press release from the City of Leander:

October 5, 2021

What is National Night Out

National Night Out (NNO) is a nationwide event that is celebrated in Texas on the first Tuesday in October. Locally, we celebrate our police and community partnerships with a number of individual neighborhood gatherings. These gatherings are our opportunity to strengthen relationships by getting to know your neighbors, Leander police, emergency personnel, and volunteers. It is also an opportunity to discuss neighborhood issues and pass on information about anti-crime programs or projects that can help build healthy neighborhoods. NNO and the continuing projects we work on together as a community help to keep Leander a great place to live, work and play. Most importantly, as a group, these gatherings tell criminals and troublemakers that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back to maintain a high quality of life in our community.

NNO 2021 events

Registered neighborhood events and locations are shown below. Most are scheduled to occur sometime between 5:30-8:30 p.m. Please check with your neighborhood or HOA event coordinator to verify exact times.

Registered Events

• Alterra - Mailboxes/Park next to 1100 Waterfall
• Bryson - Bryson Community Center
• Crystal Crossing - Crystal Crossing Park
• Crystal Springs - Natural Falls Run (grass area behind pool)
• Greatwood - 2521 Ridley House Cv
• Hazlewood - 2301 Molly Ln
• County Glen area - Darby Lane
• Horizon Park - 300 Presidio Dr
• Lakeline Ranch - 2707 Katie Cove
• Leander Crossing - Leander Crossing Park
• Leander Heights - Leander Church of God (202 Sonny Dr)
• Mason Hills - 1214 Plano Ln (community center)
• Northside Meadow - playground at Bingham Pt and Sawyer Tr.
• Oak Creek - 317 South Brook Dr
• Palmera Ridge - 2524 Palmera Ridge Blvd (amenity center)
• Reagan's Overlook - 408 Old Pecan
• Sarita Valley - community pool on Wedgescale Pass
• South Star Bank - 10737 E Crystal Falls Pkwy
• Stewart Crossing - 1529 Carlene Pruett St
• Trails of Shady Oak - 2222 Abilene in park area
• Travisso (1) - Travisso Clubhouse (2437 Travisso Pwky)
• Travisso (2) - 2401 Parisio Ct
• Villas of Vista Ridge - 1301 Camino Court
• Westview Meadows - park/pool at 903 Municipal Dr

How do we get started for next year?

Each neighborhoods can have an individual event and the police department plans to visit as many as possible. This is a wonderful opportunity to answer questions about how we can all be involved in the crime prevention effort. So what steps do you need to take to get started?

• Gather volunteers to help you work on the event. This can be HOA board, or group of interested neighbors.
• Find a place in your neighborhood to host the event. Places with shade keep your residents longer. This could be a pool or park.
• Set a time for the event. Most events occur between 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Decide what type of food and source of the food. This could be potluck, volunteers, or purchased by the HOA. Good food keeps your residents at the event longer.
• Decide on activities you may want to include. This could be vendors with options to help keep your home more secure; fun challenges for the children; or activities to help you meet your neighbors.
• Decide on how to get the word out to your neighbors. This could include social media, HOA bulletin, flyers.

How do I register my neighborhood event?

You will need to register your neighborhood if you would like to request an officer or public safety to stop by your event. >>> CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE <<< Registration closes September 27, 2021 at noon.

How can individuals get involved?

Register your address to participate in "Light up Leander" porch light initiative. This initiative for the city of Leander is getting back to basics! Better lighting reduces opportunities to commit crimes. More information about this strategy is in the crime prevention section. >>> REGISTER YOUR PORCH LIGHT HERE <<<

Help the city and the Leander Police Department compete for recognition from the National Association of Town Watch by sending your photos. Especially those that include a NNO sign, banner, or fan if possible of Leander NNO 2021 activities with a description of the photograph that includes the subdivision name to (link sends e-mail)communityservices@leandertx.gov (link sends e-mail). Please include your contact information in the email!

Crime prevention tips

Simple steps can reduce crime in your neighborhood.

• As a strategy for “detecting” a potential attack, improve the lighting around your home at night. Have someone walk around your home with you when it is dark and determine if you can see them from the street, inside your home or another yard. If someone can walk around shrouded by darkness, even if a neighbor or police officer drives by, they will not know someone is standing by your home.
• At any time, a good strategy for “denying accessing to selected targets” is to keep doors and windows locked, even on the second floor. Specifically think about keeping your garage door closed when you are not in the garage. If you are mowing the backyard, you would not hear or see a person walk into your garage and take something. This is considered burglary even if they did not have to “break” in to your home.
• A good strategy in the “deny access to selected targets” is to lock up and keep valuables out of sight. If you have power tools in your garage, don’t advertise that you have them. Cabinets with locks can be used to keep these items safer. Take care to not lock something on wheels that can be easily rolled out of the garage.

Contact Us

For more information, contact the Community Services Division (link sends e-mail) via email and include your question, name, and subdivision (or address). Include a number and time when you can be reached.

NNO forms

This press release was produced by the City of Leander. The views expressed here are the author’s own.