Clearlake Police Chief Allan McClain recently introduced a new proactive prevention program to assist local business owners. McClain got the thumbs up to continue in his efforts to establish a business watch program with the full support of the city council.
The purpose of the Business Watch program is to create a sense of community awareness among business proprietors in an effort to prevent crimes against businesses.
The Clearlake Police Department is partnering with the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce to bring the Business Watch program to the community. McClain will provide an informational presentation before members of the chamber during its next monthly dinner, Tuesday, May 6, at Howard”s Grotto on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
“This program is designed to reduced crime through effective communication,” McClain explained to the council on April 24. “When we take a report of a bad check at one business, we are inevitably going to take the same report at several other businesses. Business Watch is designed to notify all participating businesses of the criminal activity as soon as possible so they do not become an additional victim.”
Participation in the program will provide an opportunity for business owners to get to know each other and work together in a program of mutual assistance. Participants will be trained to recognize and report suspicious activities in their community and implement prevention strategies such as business security and operation identification.
“There can”t be a law enforcement officer on every corner, so citizen involvement is essential to combat crime,” it states in an informational hand-out describing the Business Watch program. “You and your fellow merchants are the ones who really know what is going on in your community. By cooperating with each other and the police, people can help fight crime in their community in the most effective way – before it begins!”
Anyone interested in participating in a Business Watch crime prevention program is encouraged to gain more information by contacting Sergeant Tom Clements at the Clearlake Police Department, 994-8251, ext. 310; or Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lori Peters at 994-3600.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
