Tonight is the 30th Annual National Night Out;16,000 Communities Set to Party Against Crime

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Aug 06, 2013, 09:00 ET

WYNNEWOOD, Pa., August 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tonight, citizens, law enforcement agencies, community groups, businesses and local officials in close to 16,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide will join forces to mark the 30^th Annual National Night Out (NNO) – an annual crime and safety event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). Nationally, over 37 million people are expected to participate in 'America's Night Out Against Crime' this year. National Night Out corporate sponsors are Target, Nextdoor.com and Associa.

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"It's one of those rare occasions when neighbors and police are out in the neighborhood and nothing is wrong," said Matt Peskin, creator of the event and National Project Coordinator. "It is a great time to strengthen neighborhood camaraderie and police-community partnerships."

Along with the traditional "lights on" and front porch vigils, there will be thousands of crime prevention block parties, cookouts, parades, festivals, ice cream socials, neighborhood visits by local police, flashlight walks and neighborhood meetings.

National Night Out is designed to:

(1)   Heighten crime prevention awareness;
(2)   Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
(3)   Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships;
(4)   Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Peskin said, "Year after year, this campaign continues to build safer, more caring communities because neighbors and police and meeting and greeting."

For more information, visit nationalnightout.org.

SOURCE National Association of Town Watch