Eating, Meeting and Preventing Crime in Chatham Township at National Night Out (With Photo Gallery)

Know your neighbors, know your neighbors, know your neighbors. That was the theme of National Night Out in Chatham Township Tuesday, during which police drove around to seven different locations around town in a convoy of police vehicles to say hello to residents and to encourage crime prevention.

Block parties were held at each of the seven stops (a map of the locations is at right). Food and drinks were served, and in some cases, meat was grilled. But in every place, people gathered together to mingle with their neighbors and to meet police officers that came bearing balloons and other souvenirs for children.

Police said the event, which takes place nationally in different forms, is partially intended to encourage people to meet the people around them. That way, they might more readily notice if something is amiss in the neighborhood.

"So many people don't know their neighbors," said township police Lt. George Petersen, who has helped organize National Night Out activities in the municipality since police began doing so in 1987. "That's a big element of crime prevention."

Petersen said the event has changed a great deal over the years. In 1993, he said, for example, the township closed Shunpike Road between Chatham Mall and Hickory Square Mall and put on a carnival, complete with elephant rides and music. Things have downsized since then.

But that didn't stop people from coming out in droves. Children enthusiastically ran up to McGruff, a dog mascot (played by a member of the Chatham Township fire department) who accompanied police, at each party. Some touched his nose and played with his ears.

A few youngsters at the locations made their way over to the police cars—many of which had their sirens blaring and lights flashing as they drove up to the block parties—to look inside.

"(The children) need to know that the police are good and here to protect us," said Monique Degnan, who stood with her daughter, Kathleen, at the intersection of Yarmouth Road and Falmouth Road to greet police.

Others agreed. "These guys are great," said Katie Lyons, who organized one of the gatherings at her home on Hilltop Terrace. "It's a fabulous way to connect with the policemen."

Karen Swartz has been organizing the National Night Out get-together at Yarmouth and Falmouth for the past two years. She spent several days before the event putting flyers in mailboxes nearby in an attempt to encourage people to come.

She enjoys the camaraderie the evening can often bring.

"I thought—you know what?—getting the neighborhood together for any reason is a good idea," she said.

Check back soon for a video from the event.