Two meetings were held on Wednesday, Feb 26th at the Moreland School at 4711 W Campbell Ave. The first meeting was held from 6-7:00pm and was open to all Baker West residents. We had a good turnout with 18 residents attending. Marta Dominguez, a Crime Prevention Specialist with the SJPD, presented details about how to start a Neighborhood Watch group on your street and gave general information about contacting the police in the event of an emergency. Details can be found in the handout attached below. Rosemary Kamei, our city counsel representative and also a Baker West resident, shared input on recent events in our neighborhood and attended both meetings. Following Councilmember Kamei, Captain Tran of the San Jose Police Department took questions about the recent spate of robberies. He also talked about the value of registering your home webcams with the SJPD as they can often help with identifying tips to catch the perpetrators. You can find details about that program here: https://bakerwest.org/2025/02/register-your-webcams/
The second meeting was held from 7:00-8:30pm and was an “invitation only” for residents of streets that were forming the first Baker West Neighborhood Watch Program (portions of Colusa Way, Paseo Olivos Ct and Elmgrove Ave). There were 30 residents attending, representing 26 homes.
Below is a summary of the Neighborhood Watch program as presented by Marta Dominguez:
What is Neighborhood Watch?
Neighborhood Watch is a community-based program, backed by the San Jose Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit for nearly 25 years, focused on preventing crimes such as burglaries, auto thefts, and personal crimes. It also tackles issues like vandalism, graffiti, drug dealing, and gang activity by uniting neighbors with local police.
How to Arrange a Meeting:
- To schedule a Neighborhood Watch meeting, call the Crime Prevention unit at (408) 277-4133.
- A Crime Prevention Specialist, assigned to your area, will work with you to set a meeting date (typically requiring 4-6 weeks’ notice).
- Meetings are held on Monday through Thursday evenings at 6:30 P.M. and last about 2 hours.
- A minimum of ten homes must be represented for a meeting to occur, usually at a resident’s home or a community facility.
- If desired, the BWNA can assist with arranging a room and providing food for the event.
What Happens at the Meeting:
- Residents meet face-to-face with local police representatives.
- Topics include understanding police districts and beats, current crime trends, proper reactions to suspicious or criminal activities, and an overview of San Jose’s 9-1-1 system.
- Practical home security tips are discussed—covering locks, lighting, alarms, and other measures.
- Only meeting attendees receive a Neighborhood Watch window sign and additional materials; if 80%-100% of homes are represented, metal signs may be installed on streetlight poles for added deterrence.
Real-Life Examples:
The program’s importance is underscored by real events:
- A resident’s intuition about a suspicious individual was unfortunately proven right when his home was burglarized later that day.
- Another neighbor experienced significant loss after leaving a door slightly ajar.
- In a more serious case, a vulnerable elderly resident was harmed by someone who exploited a trusting situation.
These examples highlight how common-sense precautions and community vigilance can prevent victimization.
More information on the Neighborhood Watch program:
https://www.sjpd.org/community/crime-prevention/neighborhood-watch
Info on NW https://www.sjpd.org/community/crime-prevention/neighborhood-watch
