SPD Urges Community Crime Watch for Apartment and Condo Residents

Security cameraSPD Urges Community Crime Watch for Apartment and Condo Residents

While apartment complex owners and managers are responsible for providing a safe and secure premises, residents can help to protect themselves and their neighbors through a Community Crime Watch.

The Seattle Police Department explains, a “Community Crime Watch…is based on the principle that neighbors working together are the first and best line of defense against crime.”

Read SPD tips to get a Community Crime Watch started in your apartment community:

Two Basic Commitments

  1. A commitment to be concerned about your neighbor’s property as well as your own.
  2. A commitment that when you see suspicious activity, you will take action by calling your neighbor or 9-1-1.

Getting Started

  • Get to know all your adjacent neighbors and communicate often
  • Agree to watch out for each other
  • Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality.  Simply acknowledging people you see – whether you know them or not – sends the message that you as a community are paying attention to your environment.
  • Pay attention to what is going on around the building, the community. If you see people or vehicles in the building or on the grounds that you don’t recognize, and/or you notice behaviors that seem out of place, tell someone; tell each other, tell building or property management.  If the behavior is suspicious or criminal in nature, do not hesitate to call 911 and tell police.
  • Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality.  Simply acknowledging people you see – whether you know them or not – sends the message that you as a community are paying attention to your environment.

How to Support Your Crime Watch Program

  • Report all emergencies or suspicious activities to 9-1-1 immediately.
  • Call your Apartment Watch or Condo Watch Captain or Floor Captain after you have reported to 9-1-1 when you have been burglarized, or notice any suspicious activity.
  • Welcome new neighbors and invite them to join the Crime Watch.
  • Periodically look out the window and respond to any suspicious activity, strangers or noises by calling 9-1-1.
  • Take your turn as Watch Captain or Co-Captain.  You can also volunteer to host your annual get-together.

Be a Good Neighbor

  • Good neighbors should look out for each other.  Get to know your neighbors on each side of you and the three directly across from you.  Invite them into your home, communicate often, and establish trust.
  • Good neighbors will watch out for your home or apartment when you are away, if you ask them.  They can report suspicious activity to the police or to you while you are away.

Know Your Rights

Apartment residents have a right to feel safe and secure while on premises. By law, apartment owners and management companies are required to protect all residents and guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm.

We Fight for Victims of Apartment Security Negligence in Georgia…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Headline Frame Fox News DeskThe Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe properties in Georgia, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Clients in Fulton County State Court.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.
SAC EM Update

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.