Want to Keep Your Neighborhood Safe? Learn How.

Dennis Mitzner knows crime happens in Oak Forest: robberies, burglaries, assaults, and more.

But that doesn't mean he's OK with it.

Mitzner, the chair of the Crime Prevention Commission, wants to help raise residents' awareness of crime in their community—and what they can do to combat it.

And Mitzner, leader of the city's older neighborhood watch, Fieldcrest, has plenty of tips to help out. The watch program in the Fieldcrest neighborhood has been up and running for 16 years, and they've found a way to communicate their concerns and keep each other aware of their immediate surroundings.

That doesn't seem to be the case with other watch programs, Mitzner said, as they don't seem to have truly gotten off the ground.

"There have been a lot of starts and stops in various wards, and it wasn't working," Mitzner said.

But this time, Mitzner thinks it will. Mitzner, and Chief Greg Anderson invite any interested residents to a citywide neighborhood watch meeting, scheduled for Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in

"The crime we have in Fieldcrest is the same that happens in the rest of the city," Mitzner said.

If you plan to attend, Mitzner has one favor to ask: send an email with any of your specific questions or concerns ahead of time to crimeprevention@oak-forest.org. Your requests, questions and topics will help shape the meeting's agenda, and also allow Mitzner and Anderson some lead time, to research answers to questions and concerns. 

"The city's a 24/7 operation," Mitzner said. "No one officer knows everything, so this gives the chief a fighting chance to have an answer."

No need to RSVP, Mitzner said. The meeting is open to all and walk-ins are welcome.

Find a copy of the preliminary agenda for the meeting included with this article.