Some Frequently Asked Questions About Crime Watch Numbers

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 get a Crime Watch number contact the Community Relations officers of your local police district. You can also contact Operation Crime Watch at (443) 984-2371. You will need to supply your name, address and telephone number to receive a Crime Watch number. You should receive your number in the mail in about a week.

Crime Watch Member Application (Word Doc).