Long Beach residents will be encouraged to mingle with their neighbors on Tuesday, August 4, in celebration of the 32nd annual National Night Out.

 

The event is sponsored by the nonprofit National Association of Town Watch, which aims to develop and promote various crime prevention programs devoted to safer communities, according to a press release.

 

Many community watch groups will host potlucks, barbecues and ice cream socials in their neighborhoods, from 6:00PM to 9:00PM on August 4, where residents will be asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police, the release states.

“The goal is to send a message to criminals that neighbors are unified and looking out for one another, and working with police to keep crime out of their neighborhoods,” the release states. “Neighbors who get to know each other and communicate are more likely to look out for one another, notice suspicious persons in the area, and are more apt to call and report suspicious activity and crime.”

Those hosting a National Night Out event can reach out to the following officers, who will stop by parties upon request:

East Division – NSS Ruth Anne Salau 562.570.5808
North Division – NSS Erika Moreno 562.570.9825
West Division – NSS Jose Vasquez 562.570.3461

Those interested in organizing a community watch group can visit www.longbeach/police for more information.