RiverPark Neighborhood Watch

Generally, anything that seems even slightly out of the ordinary for the neighborhood or for the time of day may signal criminal activity.

Learn the neighborhood streets by name and location.

1. Know the name of the street, what block you are driving through, and the name of the intersection or cross street. This will be useful when you see something of interest and want to make a note or telephone a report in the middle of a block.
2. As you drive the streets in the RiverPark neighborhood, watch for suspicious smoke or fire, street lights that are cycling (on/off) or completely out, vehicles that appear to have been abandoned (graffiti, vandalism, broken lights/glass, etc.), wayward grocery carts, trees/limbs down, flooded areas, mail boxes not in order or other things an ordinary citizen just driving by may not report.

It is part of our job to notice and report such minor annoyances to keep the neighborhood safe. Contacts and phone numbers to use in reporting each type of observations are on the Contact Information page.

Some of the most obvious and serious things to watch for and report include:

1. A stranger entering a home when the owner is known to be away.
2. Screaming or shouting (a fight, robbery, assault).
3. Open garage doors.
4. Graffiti.
5. Smoke or fire.
6. Person removing car parts, license plates, or gasoline.
7. Person looking into parked cars (opportunity theft).
8. Breaking glass or other explosive noises (accident, break-in, vandalism).
9. Persons loitering around schools or parks (sexual predators, drug dealers).

Some Not-so-Obvious Things to Consider

Not every stranger who comes into your neighborhood is a criminal. There are many perfectly legitimate door-to-door sales and service people conducting business in Oxnard. Criminals, however, take advantage of this by pretending to be a legitimate business representative. After all, if criminals looked like criminals, there would be no issue spotting them.

Following are some suspicious situations you might observe and report -- and what they might mean:

1. Persons going door-to-door in your neighborhood. If they look into windows, appear to be trying doors to see if they’re unlocked, or go to a side or back yard, they may be burglars.
2. A person loitering in front of a home or business is suspicious if the residents are away or if the business is closed. This person may be the lookout for a burglary in progress.
3. Anyone tampering with or forcing entry into a building or vehicle is suspicious anytime, anywhere.
4. A person who is running and does not appear to be exercising, especially if carrying property, could be fleeing the scene of a crime.
5. Simply carrying property may be regarded as suspicious if it is at an unusual hour, in an unusual place, if the person appears to be trying to conceal the property, or if the property is not wrapped or bagged as if it were purchased.
6. A person exhibiting mental problems or odd physical behavior may be injured, under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, or in need of psychiatric help.
7. Heavy foot traffic to and from a residence may indicate narcotics activity or a fencing operation (buying and selling stolen property). Report this if it occurs on a regular basis or during unusual hours.

Other Things to Consider

1. Any vehicle without lights at night, cruising slowly, or following a course that seems aimless or repetitive is suspicious in any location, but particularly so in areas of schools, parks, and playgrounds. Occupants may be “casing” for a burglary or robbery, or they could possibly be drug dealers or sex offenders.
2. Parked, occupied vehicles are worth noting, especially if seen at unusual hours. It could be a possible lookout for a crime, even if the occupants appear to be lovers. Make a note of the car’s description and license plate. Check back a little later in your patrol.
3. Vehicles being loaded with valuables are suspicious if parked at a closed business or residence where the occupants are away, even if the vehicle appears to be a legitimate commercial unit. Professional thieves will often take the time and trouble to customize their vehicles with special signs in order to move freely without attracting attention and raising suspicion.
4. Apparent business transactions conducted from a vehicle, especially around schools or parks may be indicative of drug sales.
5. Persons being forced into vehicles, especially if female and/or juvenile, may mean a possible kidnapping.
6. An unfamiliar vehicle parked in a neighborhood may be stolen.
7. On-going vehicle “repair” operations at a non-business location could mean a “chop shop” where stolen cars are stripped, repainted, or altered.
8. Open or broken windows and doors at a home or business could mean a burglary still in progress or already completed. Report this for police investigation only; do not approach the scene yourself.
9. Gunshots, screaming, the sounds of a fight, persons chasing others on foot or in cars, unusual barking of dogs - anything suggesting foul play, danger, disturbance of the peace, or criminal activity - should be immediately reported.

While some, if not all, of the suspicious circumstances described above could have logical and legitimate explanations. The Oxnard Police Department would rather investigate a potential criminal situation and find nothing than be called after it is already too late and someone has been victimized.

Also, any suspicious circumstance should also be reported to the RiverPark Neighborhood Watch Watch Coordinator once the Oxnard Police Department has been notified.

Patrol Tips by Officer Alex Rangel

1. Do not follow suspicious vehicles. Your task is to observe, record, and report. Do not call the police needlessly. You should only call when you observe something suspicious or actually see something happen.
2. Do not approach suspicious vehicles, particularly if occupied. If possible get a good description of the car, its color, and license number. If you think you should call the police, then you should.
3. Do not drive through your neighborhood with your lights out. This has caused false reports to the police of "car casing the neighborhood".
4. Do not carry any type of weapon when on patrol. That is not why you are out on patrol and we don't want anyone injured for any reason. In an emergency, a heavy duty flashlight could be used as a defensive device.
5. If you are on a two person shift, feel free to use the radios to stay in contact with each other, or to call for help. Your patrol's frequencies should be monitored at home by watch members who has a third radio and who is not on patrol.
6. If you are on a one person shift and need help, call the person monitoring for help. Give your location. Your correct location is critical if the help you want is to arrive at the proper place.
7. Please become familiar with the street names in the areas you patrol. You should also become familiar with what directions the streets run (north, south, east, and west).
8. The neighborhood watch patrol should have a street map of the area and should provide a copy to all members of the patrol.
9. Because of the limited amount of radios and other equipment, it should be controlled by one responsible member of the neighborhood watch patrol. Watch members should know where the equipment can be picked up and dropped off, before and after a shift. A second person should take responsibility if the designated person is out of town or unavailable.
10. Don't forget to return the radios, and/or other equipment. If you don't recharge the batteries, the equipment won't be usable for the next shift. Please report any equipment or problems you have to your watch coordinators.