Perkerson Civic Association

Neighborhood Watch/Business Watch

The Perkerson Neighborhood has been a long term participant in the Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch Programs with the Atlanta Police Department.

[A Website for Perkerson Neighborhood Watch & Safety Information is under construction.]

The Atlanta Police posted the Neighborhood Watch signs on streets along with Business Watch stickers on the doors and windows of all businesses participating in the program. There were a certain percentage of neighbors who agreed to participate in the program and completed the necessary paperwork and partnered with the local CPI (Crime Prevention Inspector-Cathy Taylor) at the Atlanta Police Department. We have neighbors who have undergone Block Captain Training as well.

Neighborhood Watch

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BUSINESS WATCH:

Business Watch primarily establishes links among small businesses, and between them and the police. Basically, Business Watch is businesses (sometimes with community groups), taking systematic steps to reduce opportunities for crimes in and around business locations. It includes training business personnel to be eyes and ears for the police. In Business Watch areas, crime prevention police officers and business leaders assist business owners, operators, and employees in

• reporting crime: effectively observing and reporting to police on crimes and suspicious activities that could lead to crime;
• operation identification: marking all equipment, machines, etc., with traceable identification numbers for deterrence and tracing;
• robbery prevention: eliminating "easy prey" crime opportunities;
• burglary prevention: adding security measures to impede criminals, detect criminal activity, and communicate with the police; and
• self-protection: learning to recognize dangerous situations, and learning how to prevent, avoid, or flee them.

Business Watch programs often have a business leader act as the block security chief for the participating businesses. One or more police officers are usually assigned to be the liaison with the Business Watch group. The local civic association or other community groups may also participate, lending extra eyes and ears, especially for periods when the businesses are closed. Sometimes the businesses are linked to each other and to the police through radio or fax machine message trees. Radio-equipped delivery and service vehicles may also become part of Business Watch.