The United States Department of Justice defines a Neighborhood Watch as “a group of people living in the same area who want to make their neighborhood safer by working together and in conjunction with local law enforcement to reduce crime and improve their quality of life.” The agency states that Neighborhood Watch programs go back nearly 70 years, but truly came into prominence in the 1970s and 80s.

If you do a search of nearby sex offenders, you may be surprised to learn there’s one (or more!) living just down the street…or even next door… to you.

You thought your neighborhood was safe, but now your sense of security is rattled. And when you have kids, that sense of security might be even more shaken.

What do you do?

Talk to your kids

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “35.8% of sexual assaults occur when the victim is between the ages of 12 and 17.”

Paul and Patrice Linehan of Alexandria, Virginia were outraged when their neighbor, Gavin Nichols built his garage two feet from the property line last fall. Their kitchen window now looks onto a fence and concrete-block structure wall.