Issaquah Highlands neighbors gathered at Blakely Hall to learn about the benefits of Block Watch from Issaquah Police Sergeant Ryan Raulerson on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
Raulerson, who has been with the Issaquah Police Department (IPD) for 19 years, said he’s received numerous requests for Block Watch programs over the years. In a time when most police departments are understaffed, he said, neighbors can work together as the “eyes and ears of the community” to effectively curb crime.
“This isn’t grabbing the pitch forks and parading through the streets. You’re not going to be deputized,” he joked. “The idea is the group shares information, notices crime trends and stays on the lookout for one another.”
IPD currently operates with four patrol squads, he said. It’s difficult to ensure equal coverage for all neighborhoods of Issaquah Highlands, so officers rely on trends for increasing patrols in a certain area. For example, he said, criminals look for areas where lots of vehicles are present.
“The biggest deterrent is catching people in the act,” he said.
Raulerson said property crime can also be deterred by investing in outside cameras, video doorbells and motion sensor lights. (Stay tuned for a future Block Watch meeting focusing on how to place cameras and lights around your home as effective deterrents.)
Many people don’t report crimes like package theft, he said, which makes it difficult to use data for determining trends. Raulerson emphasized that reporting even small package crimes is important for IPD to understand patterns. The retailer, like Amazon, doesn’t usually report package thefts, so it’s important to file your own report with police as well as the retailer.)
“There’s a general feeling among people that crime is increasing,” he said. “But we don’t know anything until you tell us.”
He encourages residents to report concerns about abandoned vehicles, illegal parking, nuisance noise, problem traffic areas and residential speeding with a form online through the City of Issaquah. People can also create online police reports for identity theft, lost property, no-injury hit and runs, telephone harassment, theft, vandalism, vehicle prowls and vehicle tampering.
A majority of vehicle prowls happen within the city because the cars are unlocked, Raulerson said. He suggests checking your vehicles each night to ensure they’re locked. It’s also important to keep any expensive items out of sight, he noted.
If you plan to leave your car for an extended period, including at the airport, remember to put your garage door opener and vehicle registration in a secure place to prevent criminals from having access to your house.
Consider registering valuable items such as phones, computers, jewelry and collectables online to keep a secure record of your property in case of theft, Raulerson said.
Residents interested in Block Watch will meet at Blakely Hall quarterly, with representatives from IPD and special guests to help the community to come together to prevent crime. Join the Facebook page to stay in touch and to discuss trends and issues in Issaquah Highlands.
For more information on how you can participate, contact Krista Owen at 425-891-1545 or kristalynowen@gmail.com.
