FAQS: CRIME WATCH NUMBER

What is a Crime Watch number?
A Crime Watch number, also known as a “Block Watch” number, is a unique, seven-digit number issued to you by the Baltimore Police Department.  It is a confidential identification number that you give to the 9-1-1 Operator after dialing “9-1-1” if you do not want the officer responding to your call to come to your door.  Once the Crime Watch number is entered into the 9-1-1 computer system your phone number and address, which normally are sent by the 9-1-1 system to the responding patrol car, are not sent so that the officer in the responding patrol car does not know who made the call.
 
Is the Crime Watch Number a special telephone number to call?
No, it is not a telephone number.  Think of it as a confidential membership number in the Operation Crime Watch program that you give to the 9-1-1 Operator after you dial “9-1-1”.

If the officer in the patrol car does not know who made the call to
“9-1-1”, how will the officer know where to go?
When you give your Crime Watch number after dialing “9-1-1”, the 9-1-1 Operator will ask several questions, including the location of the incident about which you are calling.  The 9-1-1 Operator will pass on information about the location of the incident to the patrol car, but will not pass on information about the location of the person calling “9-1-1”. Thus, the officer will go to the location of the incident, not to the caller.  Even if the incident is right in front of your house, the responding officer will not know if the call came from your house or the house of one of your neighbors.

What if I really need help and I want the officer to come to my door?
If you need the officer to come to your door, do not use your Crime Watch number.  Simply dial “9-1-1” as your normally would and answer the questions asked by the 9-1-1 Operator.

How do I get a Crime Watch Number?
To apply for a Crime Watch, number please click on the below button to fill out an application.  You should receive your number via email in about a week.

Sheila Dixon, Mayor
Operation Crime Watch, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods

This page last updated: 06/25/07

 Charles Village Community Benefits District Management Authority
2301 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218
Office: 410-235-4411 FAX: 410-235-5544