Neighbourhood Watch
While the Montgó is undeniably a picturesque area, it’s equally crucial to stay vigilant about security risks. This is where Neighbourhood Watch comes in. Collaborating as a community allows us to contribute to the safety of our neighbourhood.
Our initiative aims to establish localized WhatsApp groups for smaller areas within the Montgó. These groups serve as a valuable platform for residents to connect with neighbours and share information regarding any suspicious activities.
Gerrie, serving as the lead representative for the Montgó area, acts as a vital link to Javea Neighbourhood Watch. With a direct connection to the police, they work in tandem to enhance visibility, awareness, and security in our locality. Gerrie is ready to provide residents with a template letter, available in multiple languages, encouraging neighbours to join the smaller WhatsApp groups. This enables the seamless dissemination of messages, suggestions, and alerts.
In alignment with police recommendations, small Neighborhood Watch signs are advised for individual properties, with larger signs at road entrances. Gerrie is exploring the possibility of securing sponsorship for these signs and investigating resident interest in wearing hi-vis jackets as a deterrent while exploring the Montgó.
By pooling our efforts, we can collectively enhance safety in the Montgó for everyone. Are you interested in taking on the role of coordinator for your subgroup?
For more information, please contact Gerrie Ruijs via email or call/WhatsApp:Telephone: 0034-623420437
Email: gerriegerrie89@gmail.com
Read the minutes from a recent Safety and Security meeting here.
Our Members can join the WhatsApp Alert Group
We understand that these times can be worrisome, particularly for individuals living alone. APMJ oversees the WhatsApp NHW Alerts Montgó Group for our association, and our members are welcome to join.
The primary purpose of this group is to promptly inform the community about ongoing burglaries and recent threats. It is not intended for open discussions. The following information can be shared within this group:
- Immediate requests for assistance in case of an intruder.
- If you’ve unfortunately been a victim of a burglary, the following information can be useful to other members if you choose to post it:
- Street Name (only), Date, and Time of Burglary.
- Alarm – Yes/No.
- External Cameras – Yes/No.
- Dog – Yes/No.
- Security Lights – Yes/No.
- Method of Entry.
- Occupied/Unoccupied status.
- Any other details you consider significant.
Neighbourhood Watch General Information
What should I do if I see suspicious activities?
- If you witness a crime in progress, [i.e. burglary, car theft etc] immediately phone 112 and report the crime or use the Xabia App. If you do not speak Spanish you can request an English-speaking operator.
- If you see suspicious activities, then note as much detail as you can and email this information to the NHW Montgó co-ordinator: contact details above.
Include the following details; date, time and location; a brief description of what you saw; number and description of persons involved; description of any vehicle present, make, colour, registration number, and any other details you think would be helpful.
The Neighbourhood Watch Association [NHW] or Asociación de Vecinos Cooperando,[VC] is active in all areas of Jávea. NHW has the support of the local police, the Guardia Civil and the local council. NHW covers the whole of Jávea, and will bring all the benefits found in local NHW schemes to our urbanisation, together with the help and support of schemes already in place. The purpose of NHW is to provide a centralised co-ordinating role to the many schemes operating in the area, and to establish and maintain the strong links with the police and local council essential to preventing crime in Jávea. The intention is that each urbanisation will form its own local NHW scheme, with the support of the urbanisation residents’ committee. Here on the Montgó, the Vecinos Cooperando organisation [NHW] started in January 2009 and is an integral part of the APMJ.
Standard Vecinos Cooperando signs are available and have been placed at the main entrance roads to Montgó urbanisations to make others aware that the urbanisation is a VC [NHW] area. Smaller signs are available for houses through the NHW coordinator. NHW acts as a co-ordinating link to the police, making regular contact and giving details of anything suspicious seen in an area. The police will in return provide details of local crime, and NHW can pass back relevant information to local co-ordinators to share with their neighbours. This will allow residents to be more vigilant in protecting their own property, thus reducing crime and the opportunity for crime. NHW will therefore act as a filter to ensure that local co-ordinators, and police, only get the information that is of importance to them. Many urbanisations have already discovered the benefits of having such a scheme in their area, with reductions in crime levels improving the quality of life in communities, and offering much comfort and reassurance to residents
For further information about the Asociación de Vecinos Co-operando de Montgó [VC], and for details how you can support your local NHW scheme, please contact Gerrie.
House safety tips from Chief of Police (click image to view larger)
