MOSES LAKE — To prevent crime and protect each other, three women began a block watch on Beaumont Drive in Moses Lake.

Lisa Hanley said she and fellow block neighbors Harriet West and Judy Henninger organized a block watch party in September.

Hanley said many people don’t know their neighbors even though they might live next door to each other for many years. So the three women began giving flyers to their neighbors inviting people to a barbecue.

The purpose of the gathering was to meet each other and learn about each other’s needs, she said. They learned what people belonged to each home so they could recognize if someone was at a residence when they shouldn’t be there. She said they also learned there is a vacant house and are now aware that no one should be in the home. The neighbors also exchanged contact information with each other to notify one another if they leave town.

“It was very effective to bring our block together again,” she said.

Hanley said families from every home attended with the exception of one residence with someone who was unable to attend due to illness.

She said the event was successful because people ranging from youth to adult attended. The block plans to host a barbecue annually.

For assistance to form a neighborhood block watch, contact Crime Prevention Specialist Bob Carpenter at the Moses Lake Police Department at 509-766-9278.

Block watch meeting tonight

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a meeting to discuss the formation of block watch programs Tuesday night.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Grant County Housing Authority located at 1139 Larson Blvd., in Moses Lake.

They will discuss block watch programs, gangs and other issues affecting the Larson Basin Housing Area.

— Staff report