Safety Resources

Neighbourhood watch guides

Neighbours who look out for each other are the most effective deterrent there is. Three step-by-step programs you could start this month.

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Contact your local police service’s community liaison officer to express interest and get official support.
Identify a core group of 4–6 committed neighbours willing to help organize.
Host an initial meeting — your local police can often send a community officer to present.
Map your neighbourhood and divide it into manageable zones with a block captain for each.
Establish a communication channel (group text, app or email list) for sharing alerts.
Register your group with Neighbourhood Watch Canada to access resources and training.
Post Neighbourhood Watch signs at neighbourhood entry points (coordinate with your municipality).
Hold regular meetings — quarterly is a good starting point — to share updates and maintain engagement.

8 steps

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Call 9-1-1 for emergencies or crimes in progress. Use your non-emergency police line for past incidents.
Document everything before it changes: take photos, note the time, and write down descriptions while fresh.
For suspect descriptions, note: gender, approximate age, height, build, clothing colour and style, hair, and any distinguishing features.
For vehicles: make, model, colour, licence plate (province and number), and direction of travel.
Identify any witnesses and ask if they’re willing to speak with police.
Submit a tip to Crime Watch Canada to alert your community, even after reporting to police.
Keep your police file number for follow-up. You have the right to request updates on your case.

7 steps

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Recruit one block captain per 10–15 households on your street.
Provide each captain with a contact list for their block and the broader watch coordinator.
Train captains to recognize and report suspicious activity without confronting suspects.
Establish a clear escalation path: suspicious activity → block captain → coordinator → police if needed.
Recognize and appreciate your captains — volunteer burnout is the most common reason programs fail.
Hold annual training refreshers and invite police community officers to present on current local crime trends.

6 steps

Emergency & reporting contacts

Save these to your phone. If anything is happening right now, call 9-1-1 first — everything else can wait.

Emergency — 9-1-1 9-1-1

Crimes in progress, medical emergencies, or any situation needing immediate police, fire or ambulance response.

Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477

Anonymous tip line, national. Your identity is never recorded.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre 1-888-495-8501

Report fraud, scams and identity theft.

Missing Children Society of Canada 1-800-661-6160

Search and family support when a child is missing. Call 9-1-1 first.

mcsc.ca

Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868

24/7 confidential counselling for young people. Text CONNECT to 686868.

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security 1-833-CYBER-88

Report cyber incidents. For online fraud losses, also report to the Anti-Fraud Centre.

cyber.gc.ca

Victim Support Line (Ontario) 1-888-579-2888

Support and referrals for victims of crime in Ontario. Other provinces: ask your local police for victim services.

RCMP National Headquarters 613-993-7267

General inquiries only — to report a crime, contact your local RCMP detachment or police service.

rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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