The city has extra sets of eyes and ears assisting police and codes enforcement personnel, but many people may not realize it.
Jeff Reeder, president of the city's Citizens Corps Council, said at Tuesday's public safety committee meeting the invitation is out for anyone who wants to join a Neighborhood Watch group.
"We can provide information and education on what the citizen's role is and what they can do to help prevent crime," he said.
Reeder said, when the new year begins, he will propose a gathering of the city's 15 active Neighborhood Watch groups. "I want the groups to sit down with police, fire, codes and public safety committee members," he said.
The meeting likely will be held at City Hall.
"We need to brainstorm about what we can do to become more effective to make the city safer," he said.
Over the three year's he's headed the group, Reeder said the number of Neighborhood Watch groups has grown. This August, the group took part in safety walks as part of National Night Out.
"Our role can be reporting suspicious activities, checking on unsafe conditions of buildings or sidewalks and reporting these to the codes enforcement office, and training watch groups to know what information to take down for police and codes," he said.
Reeder said he's advised people to scan the newspaper, meet their neighbors and get involved in community activities.
The corps council has made leaflets with numbers for the drug task force, and information on advisories such as telling people not leave items in a vehicle overnight in view of opportunists.
It distributes the material at places such as the First Saturday marketplace on Pine Street, at various festivals in Newberry and town meetings.
Anyone interested in becoming involved in a Neighborhood Watch group may call Reeder at 323-5119.
