Reminder: San Marcos Neighborhoods To Host National Night Out Tonight

“Crimes are solved three ways:  By officers observing a crime in progress, through physical evidence, and by receiving tips from citizens,” said San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp.

San Marcos residents are invited to join City Officials, the San Marcos Police Department and the San Marcos Fire Department in observing the 2017 National Night Out tonight.

The event is part of a national effort to prevent crime in communities around the United States.

During National Night Out, neighborhoods will host porch-sitting and “lights on” areas and sponsor special events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from law enforcement, rallies and marches.

“Crimes are solved three ways:  By officers observing a crime in progress, through physical evidence, and by receiving tips from citizens,” said San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp. “By far, the most reliable of these are the tips from citizens.  National Night Out gives us the opportunity to get to know the citizens we serve better and meet them in their neighborhood.  It also opens the lines of communication between citizens and our department.” 

This year, the San Marcos Police Department is teaming up with the San Marcos Fire Department and the San Marcos Telecommunications Officers to bring the event to communities throughout the county.

The nationwide program is a popular and effective vehicle for heightening awareness of crime prevention strategies, enhancing police-community relations, and bolstering volunteer morale.

“We look forward to this evening each year and the new relationships it helps to foster,” Stapp said.

During past NNO events, participants have  included Hills of Hays, The Wellington, Mariposa Apartment Homes, Stone Brook, Willow Creek, CM Allen Homes, Blanco Vista, Chapultepec Homes, Allenwood Homes, Savannah Club, Oak Heights, Ridgeway, Hughson Heights, Harper Street/River Road, Sierra Circle, Castle Forest, Franklin Square,  Pearce Court,  Springtown Villas, Victory Gardens, Country Oaks Apartments, Westover Mobile Home Park, Mockingbird  & Pulte Subdivision, Blanco River Village, and Purgatory Creek Apartments.

The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of organized, law enforcement-affiliated crime and drug prevention programs. Members include: Neighborhood, Crime, Community, Town and Block Watch Groups; law enforcement agencies; state and regional crime prevention associations; and a variety of businesses, civic groups and concerned individuals working to make their communities safer places in which to live and work.

Since 1981, NATW’s center of information, programs and technical assistance has worked with law enforcement and civilian leaders to keep volunteers interested, involved and motivated.