NEIGHBORHOO WATCH: FIGHTING CRIME TOGETHER BUILDS COMMUNITY TIES : PROFILE.

Byline: Charlie Dusheck

A recent survey concluded that given two free hours an evening, 80 percent of the adults interviewed would rather spend them talking to neighbors on their street vs. being online or watching TV. This desire to talk to your neighbors, getting to know each other, is the essence of this column and the Neighborhood Watch program.

In future columns I will discuss subjects including: personal safety tips; theft of autos, boats and bicycles; gangs; child safety; senior citizens; con games; school safety; drugs; and home and apartment security.

If you have any questions or tips related to crime prevention and awareness, please write me at: P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, CA 91365-4200. I will do my best to provide an answer in my column.

First, I would like to discuss Neighborhood Watch: neighbors watching out for each other. Most everybody has seen the signs posted on residential streets: ``Warning - This is a Neighborhood Watch Community.''

It works

It helps reduce crime.

The program is not limited to Los Angeles, it is active across the country in most cities, towns and villages. Neighbors watching out for each other. The following describes the LAPD Neighborhood Watch program and what we hope to do in future columns.

What is Neighborhood Watch? A partnership between the police and the community to prevent crime and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

What does Neighborhood Watch involve? Neighbors getting to know each other, working together in a program of mutual assistance, being trained by the police to recognize and report suspicious activities and learning crime prevention strategies.

Why a Neighborhood Watch? Police cannot be on every corner. Neighborhood Watch, citizen involvement as an integral part of community policing, is essential in combating crime. By cooperating with each other, the police and neighbors can help fight crime in their area in the most effective way - before it begins.

It's easy to start a Neighborhood Watch program. Just make one phone call to your area police division Neighborhood Watch officer. The officer will help you organize. Understand, Neighborhood Watch does not ask anyone to take any personal risk to prevent crime. You and your neighbors are taught to observe and report - not confront.

If you are interested in establishing a Watch program in your neighborhood, contact the San Fernando Valley Police Division nearest your home, ask for the Neighborhood Watch Officer: North Hollywood Division: [phone]; Van Nuys Division [phone]; Devonshire Division: [phone]; Foothill Division: [phone]; West Valley Division: [phone].

Call your police division to start a watch program today.

We know crime in Los Angeles is on the decrease. What percentage is the result of the Neighborhood Watch program is difficult to define. But we do know the program works.

In my neighborhood, residents working together have established a number of programs, among them vacation watch, to make sure criminals don't hit while homeowners are away. That involves picking up newspapers, moving garbage containers and watching for unusual activity.

We also rely on each other to report abandoned cars and graffiti. Especially, we welcome new neighbors to the program. Neighborhood Watch works.

First Notice: The North San Fernando Valley Community Foundation has scheduled an appearance by Los Angeles police Chief Bernard Parks from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 23 at CSUN's Performing Arts Center.

There will be a question and answer period. Come prepared. This is a chance for Valley people to hear our new chief.

In the meantime, welcome to Neighborhood Watch.

Starting today, Charlie Dusheck, a Chatsworth resident for 25 years, will write a regular column on the Los Angeles Neighborhood Watch program and crime prevention and awareness. A retired aeronautical engineer, Dusheck has been a Neighborhood Watch block captain for six years.

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