Valleywide : Anti-Crime Groups Devote Night to Unity

Porch lights will go on Tuesday night across the Valley and the nation to mark the 12th annual National Night Out, a stand for community awareness against crime.

“For the last two years the turnout has been really good in the Reseda and Winnetka areas,” said Senior Lead Officer Mark Pryor of the Los Angeles Police Department.

He has been encouraging the 260 Neighborhood Watch block groups he oversees to turn on their lights and come outside in a show of unity.

“We have some areas where the whole block will be out,” Pryor said.

Organizers said that the evening is meant more as a social event to bring neighbors together rather than to focus on education and planning.

The event is being organized by the National Assn. of Town Watch, which predicts that as many as 28 million people will participate.

Many neighborhoods are organizing block parties, cookouts, socials, walks, fairs and safety demonstrations.

The Night Out is meant to heighten awareness about crime and drug prevention, strengthen neighborhood spirit and send a message to criminals, as well as generate support for local anti-crime programs.

The recent tragedy in which the husband of a Neighborhood Watch block captain in Winnetka was fatally shot underscores the importance of this year’s Night Out, Pryor said.

“It’s important that they continue to be involved and show their support for each other as well as for our neighborhoods,” he said.