(January 16, 2004) - Criminals beware! Eight hundred extra pair of eyes
will soon be patrolling neighborhoods looking for suspicious activity.
These new crime fighters do not have super human powers but they are Real
Estate Agents armed with the knowledge of how to spot and detect criminal
happenings in our community. Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS®,
Central Alabama CrimeStoppers, Law Enforcement Agencies in Montgomery,
Autauga, and Elmore counties, and U.S. Yoshukai Karate have teamed up for
a program called REALTOR® Watch.
REALTOR® Watch is designed to teach REALTORS®
crime prevention and proper crime reporting techniques to get them
involved in assisting the crime fighters of our community in protecting
property and possessions.
Cpl. Tony Garrett, MPD Crime Prevention
Specialist, demonstrates a personal safety alarm as Realtor Dick
Short looks on |
Law enforcement cannot be everywhere all the time.
They need assistance from the public in reporting and solving crimes.
Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR), with its vast
man power resource in the tri county area can accept this challenge. Since
November, members of MAAR have been attending REALTOR® Watch
training sessions sponsored by CrimeStoppers, local law enforcement
agencies, and U.S. Yoshukai Karate. The training session informs the
REALTORS® on how to recognize and report suspicious activity
as well as how to avoid dangerous situations and utilize self defense
techniques. Once trained, the REALTORS® go about their daily
business, but always keeping an eye open for suspicious activity in the
neighborhoods they are working. Anything a REALTOR® Watch
participant finds suspicious they call CrimeStoppers at 215-STOP.
CrimeStoppers forwards the information to the proper law enforcement
agency for investigation.
At the kick off luncheon, Realtors from Montgomery, Autauga,
and Elmore county listen as Chief John Wilson talks about Realtor
Watch |
REALTOR® Watch officially kicked off
January 14 at a luncheon sponsored by the Montgomery Area
Association of REALTORS®. Montgomery Police
Department Police Chief John Wilson was the guest speaker.
Representatives from law enforcement agencies in the tri county
also attended to show their support for the program. Executive
Director of CrimeStoppers, Susan Moss, applauds the involvement of the
REALTORS®. “The Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS®
approached us with the idea of REALTOR®
Watch. They wanted to take a positive and active role in the community. It
is the perfect partnership. They are working in neighborhoods day and
night. Citizens in Montgomery, Autauga, and Elmore counties will benefit
from the REALTORS® involvement in stopping and reporting
crime.”
For
more information on REALTOR® Watch call CrimeStoppers at
272-7463 or Connie Addie of Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS®
at 396-0256.
Training Schedule:
(Training is held 9am-11am at the Montgomery Area Association of
Realtors®)
Building)
