Old Business for New Members

When I first started the Business Watch, I thought safety was all about putting locks on doors- and it’s some of that- but it’s more about connecting. Connecting people to resources and connecting people to each other.

When it comes to crime prevention and safety, there are few things as effective as getting to know your neighbors. These are the people who will watch your business when you are gone. They can call you if something looks amiss before escalating or assuming something is wrong. Nothing can replace those relationships, but if you’re looking for the police’s top six recommendations to secure your business and stay up to date on neighborhood happenings, here they are:

1. Integrating cameras w/ RPD: www.RichmondConnect.org

2. Security Surveys/ CPTED Reports (see below for more details)

3. Utilizing Lieutenant Brereton to follow up after a crime (info below)

4. Use the 311 App to report street lights out, tree maintenance, graffiti, or sidewalk issues.

5. Using the Slack to communicate with each other (see link above to join our Slack Channel)

6. If you want a FREE CPTED Assessment of your property, there are still some spots left for February and March! Contact: justin.gardner@rva.gov. Want to see a copy of someone else's CPTED? Here's one from Tarrant's Cafe: CPTED Report 2024.