Block Parties, Crime Prevention: It's National Night Out Tonight

Tonight is a really bad night to commit a crime.

All over San Ramon, residents will be out pot-lucking and barbequing.

But don’t be fooled – it's not just about celebration. They’ll be looking out for their neighborhoods because tonight is the 28th annual National Night Out.

The yearly celebration is part of a push to put residents in touch with their local police force – paring down crime and strengthening community relations in the process.

San Ramon Community Outreach Officer Darlene Kittredge said that police will break into teams to make sure they hit all 15 block parties scheduled this evening. To hit up a few of those parties, head to on Harcourt Road, Valdevia Circle or Elmwood Drive.

Police will hit up different corners of the city to hand out swag, including some nice new National Night Out items, said Kittredge.

But the main reason for police reaching out today is to heighten crime and drug prevention and strengthens the people’s relationship with the police, Kittridge added.

“The beauty of the night is that it gives neighborhood’s the sole attention of police and fire,” she said. “So they can let them know if there’s anything they can do to help them to help us or that we can do to help them.”

Kittredge has been working on National Night Out for the last 20 years and she said that this is her fifth year coordinating the celebration for San Ramon.

According to the National Night Out website, more than 15,000 communities from all 50 states and also some U.S. territories and Canadian cities and U.S. military bases worldwide participated in last year’s event.

Apparently that translates to over 37 million people who participated in National Night Out 2010. And everyone is hoping for a greater turnout this year.

Kittredge said she’s seen as many as 300 people or more at yearly night-out parties in Dougherty Valley's Windemere Ranch neighborhood.

She said that regardless of size she hopes every gathering in San Ramon brings communities closer and makes them more willing to watch their neighbor’s backs.

In fact, these parties are often the starting point of a new neighborhood watch group.

“This is a great community event it brings people together in a good way,” said Kittredge.

For more information on National Night Out go to www.sanramon.ca.gov/police/nightout.html.

For more information on starting a neighborhood watch visit www.sanramon.ca.gov/police/watch.html or call Kittredge at 925-973-3303.