SANDPOINT — Neighbors keeping an eye out, aiming to keep their community safe and deter crime.

In a nutshell, that’s what the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office’s neighborhood watch program is all about, volunteer Craig Nelson said. By uniting and educating community members, neighbors help deter crime and keep everyone safer.

“By connecting neighbors, watch groups have been able to improve the quality of life and at the same time restore pride in their neighborhood,” Nelson added.

The national Block Watch program was established in 1972 with the aim of bringing law enforcement and citizens closer together and improving public safety.

Many may have heard about or seen BCSO’s Community Force signs around the county, but many aren’t aware that there may be established Block Watch groups in their neighborhood — or that they can create one if there isn’t, Nelson said.

The signs are a visual reminder that residents are keeping an eye out for one another, creating a basic crime prevention program and practicing crime safety measurements. The result? Everyone is safer, and crime is deterred, the Block Watch volunteer said.

“The Bonner County Sheriff ‘s Office gains entire neighborhoods full of folks helping them keep the community safe,” Nelson said. “In fact, their Community Force program, established in 2015, was built to establish the connection between law enforcement and their communities.”

There are more than 100 Bonner County homes and businesses that have established groups in their community, which includes thousands of neighbors or customers.

As a youngster, Nelson remembers roaming around his neighborhood, spending entire Saturdays traveling from his school to the park and beyond. In the days before cellphones, Air Tags and GPS tracking, his mother always seemed to know where he was and what he was doing.

“My mom never seemed to worry because she would be updated as to my location by neighbors in the community that would call her up on the phone to say, ‘Do you know where your son is?’” Nelson said. “Likewise, she often contacted other mothers, updating them as to the location of their children.”

Block Watch operates the same way. Group members actively work to help others — when members become aware of a victim of a crime, they offer help. Members work for better and safer neighborhoods by protecting and honoring the rights of others.

Through the program, residents help law enforcement agencies identify problem areas and learn how to respond when they see suspicious activity. Nelson said the program teaches how to provide more accurate information such as a vehicle’s license plate number and its make, model and color as well as what a suspect was wearing.

“Along with providing you an opportunity to get to know your law enforcement personnel on a more personal and professional level, your neighborhood will become more aware of criminal activity in your area in the way of drug activity, wanted person, stolen vehicles, thefts and the like,” Nelson said. “You also have an opportunity to share suspicious activity with other community watch groups so they can be alerted to such issues as mail theft, suspicious vehicles or persons in the area.”

But most importantly, Nelson said the program helps residents build a strong community as they get to know their neighbors.

“Watch Groups give community members a reason to get together and talk about making their community a better place,” he added. “Such programs reduce rumors on what is going on and reinforce the actual truth of what is happening in your community.”

By creating an organized community, Nelson said Neighborhood Watch programs let criminals know they are being watched — and that all suspicious circumstances will be reported to law enforcement.

Nelson encouraged others to join their local Community Force watch program — or start one in their neighborhood if one doesn’t already exist.

Individuals interested in learning more about how the local watch program works or how to start a neighborhood watch program, should contact Mike Brambilla, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, at 208-263-4578.