Neighborhood Crime Watch members and friends,

On Tuesday, Mayor Thomas M. Menino launched the City of Boston’s 21st Annual Can Share with a trip to Hi-Lo Foods in Jamaica Plain for a community shopping challenge. Mayor Menino joined community members to shop with a budget of $21, equal to the average weekly food stamp benefit of a Massachusetts household, showing how challenging it is for some households to feed their families. The shopping trip kicked off Can Share, the city’s annual food drive to help feed Boston’s hungry.

The Neigborhood Crime Watch unit strongly urges Neighborhood Crime Watch members accross the city to participate in Can Share by donating 21 cans, $21 dollars, or tell 21 of your neighbors about Can Share. Cans are being collected at Fire Stations, Community Centers, City Halls, and Fedex Kinkos through December 4.

Click more to find out where BPD Halloween Events are happening in your neighborhood.   more »

Halloween Safety Tips

• Parents should establish a route for children, stay within familiar areas and surroundings.  An adult should accompany young children.
• Remind kids not to enter strangers' homes or cars.
• Remind children to avoid homes without an outside light on.
• Attach your phone number and address to your children’s costume.
• Take a flashlight.
• Be sure clothing/costumes are bright, reflective and flame retardant.
• Set rules about not eating treats until kids get home. Be sure to inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them.
• When in doubt, throw it out! Candy that has been opened should be thrown away. Any homemade treats or fruit should be inspected closely.
• Never cross the street between parked cars.
• Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they can catch costumes and long wigs on fire.
• Make sure that fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or worse, have them mistaken for the real thing!
• It is also important to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters. As adults there are some very simple things we can do to make the evening safe everyone.
• Turn on your porch light and sit outside to distribute treats.  Encourage your neighbors to join you.  It makes the whole neighborhood safer.
• Move lit jack-o-lanterns off the porch where kids get bunched up if they are trick-or-treating in groups.
• Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard.
• Drive slowly all evening-you never know what creature may suddenly cross your path.
• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police.

On Wednesday, October 3, 2007, starting at approximately 9:15 p.m., the Boston Police Department (BPD) will conduct testing of the new ‘gunshot’ detection system known as Shotspotter. The testing will include simulated live gunfire near the following locations:   more »

Yesterday, was the first day of October and, subsequently, the first day of Crime Prevention Month, 2007. Since 1984, communities all over the country have designated October as the official month of crime prevention. It is a time to spread the message of prevention and rally for the cause, as well as a time to celebrate past efforts and successes.   more »