Safety
Neighborhood Safety Handbook
The National Neighborhood Watch Institute (NNWI) published a handbook
on neighborhood safety.
Members are encouraged to read this handbook. Your EBOD are looking for volunteers
to participate in our neighborhood safety program.
Crime Watch
Ellington residents are urged to participate in our Crime Watch Program to ensure the ongoing safety and security of the entire neighborhood. As the eyes and ears of the community, residents can help detect and prevent criminal activity. We ask that you report all suspicious activity immediately to the Newton County Sheriff's Department.
• Please notify a neighbor when you will not be in your home for a period of time.
• Make your home appear as if it were occupied at all times.
• Don’t let newspapers pile up or mail accumulate
• Use some form of indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Use the House Watch Program with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, when you are going to be away from your home.
Neighborhood Watch Alert List
BEWARE OF STRANGERS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD !!!
• Door-to-Door salesmen
• Children or teenagers loitering in your neighborhood during school hours
• Strangers going door-to-door looking for odd jobs or offering "free estimates"
• Strangers loading furniture, TVs or appliances into pick-up trucks, vans, or cars
• People representing themselves as: Servicemen (i.e. telephone men, utility employees), •City, County, State or Federal employees (i.e. tax assessors, police officers)
• Strangers knocking on your door asking for "Joe Smith, " or "Does a girl named Karen live here?" Etc.
• Ask for identification
WATCH FOR SUSPICIOUS CARS ON YOUR STREET
• Vehicles in the neighborhood that don’t belong there
• Vehicles cruising through the neighborhood
• Abandoned vehicles
• Unfamiliar vehicles parked in neighbor’s driveway while he is away
BE ON THE ALERT FOR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY OCCURRING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
• Dogs barking
• Broken glass or the sound of breaking glass at your neighbor’s home while he is away
• Open doors or windows at your neighbor’s home while he is away
• Lighting irregularities in your neighborhood: (Unexplained changes in lighting or position of drapes in neighbor’s home while he is away)
DO NOT HESITATE TO REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE POLICE!
• Do not take things into your own hands
• Call your police department
• Provide the police with as much information as you can:
1. Description of suspicious person/persons: Height, weight, age, race, build, color of hair, appearance, distinguishing marks or characteristics
2. Location at the time of the call as well as direction of travel
3. Make, model, and color of vehicles, license number
4. Do not assume that somebody has already called the police. Call them yourself
Motor Vehicle Laws
Over the past years, some residents have expressed concerns about unsafe motor vehicle operation in our neighborhood. The primary concern continues to be the failure of drivers to adhere to the posted speed limit of 25 mph.
To address this issue, the community will vote to approve speed bumps throughout the community.
In addition, in order to minimize the dangers of speeding and other unsafe practices, we ask all residents to obey the following,
• Follow the speed limit
• Come to a complete stop at STOP signs
• Share the roadways with walkers, joggers, and bicyclists.
• Drive cautiously at all times.
MOTORIZED SCOOTERS
Motorized scooters, sometimes referred to as go-peds, are also permitted to operate on our neighborhood streets, but may not be driven on Newton County Roads. They are to be operated according to the same rules that govern bicycle use, including use of a helmet and moving with traffic. Lights are required for nighttime operation.
DIRT BIKES
Dirt bikes are not permitted on our neighborhood streets. Although dirt bikes are classified like motorcycles, because they are designed for off road use, they do not require a licensed driver and are not governed by some of the other requirements for motorcycle operation.