Do you know your neighbors? Are you sure?

A group of four women asked that we don't use their last names, but they know their neighbors around Northeast 131st and Pacific Street.

And that's because of a Neighborhood Watch that Vicky started three years ago.

She has mobilized her neighbors. They all agree that what they call the “vigilante angry approach: doesn't work. For example, listen to what Vicky does when she spots a new tent in the neighborhood.

"And I'll say gosh, the neighbors are calling me, and they're calling the park rangers, and they usually show up pretty soon, so I just want to give you a heads up. And I'll say some personal things to 'em. It has worked every time. It's going up to a tent and saying you can't be here. That doesn't work. You have to approach it from a humanistic side. We could all be homeless at one point or another, especially during the recession, so we have to have a heart for it. But it works,” she says.

Remember when it seemed like neighborhood watches were on every block?

Several years ago, the city of Portland moved away from the traditional neighborhood watch model. In 2014, City Hall supported 597 neighborhood watches. In 2018, that number was 367.

In 2023, the city's community safety division says it doesn't organize any.

But in this neighborhood, which sits on the northern edge of Hazelwood in a quarter mile pocket of Northeast Portland, the eyes are trained on the streets.

"I think the word is out that you don't want to come and try and camp or park here in this area,” says another neighbor named Jean. “It's just not overnight welcome, it's really not. We'll be in your face, we really watch, we watch out who's parked in front of whose house, and do you have business there? Or are you just sitting there for a while on your phone? Other than that, you might as well leave, because we don't want you.”

And at least from the neighborhood perspective, all that oversight seems to be working.

Corey Kennedy happened to pull up during our interview.

"I do feel safe in my neighborhood. I think it's great that we have a Neighborhood Watch. We look out for each other, and it's important that we take care of one another as neighbors,” he said.

Even the younger residents who didn't grow up with a Neighborhood Watch see the benefits. Victoria has lived here about eight months and likes the direct approach to outreach, especially when it comes to dealing with the homeless.

"I think they do a good job of being able to approach residents as well as myself -- coming in directly offering services rather than a direct response of a sweep or something more aggressive,” she says.

So how much effort has it taken to get to this point? Not much if you ask Vicky. She has an email list of 64 neighbors.

"It's just a really organized network -- that's the key, and it's so easy. I don't even have to put that much time into it. I give a couple parties a year where neighbors can get to know each other, and that's the key,” she says.

She believes neighborhood watches need to come back in force and she's willing to help you start one.

"Really, I'm a big believer and the city needs help, the rangers need help in the parks, it's not going to happen unless neighbors get involved,” she says.

She says it's about connections. And they all know it's about the neighbors, especially these days because the police can't be everywhere. It's that tightknit response that tells the criminal element to move on. And they recommend you take the same approach where you live.

"Do it. Learn who's living in your community. We have all gone house to house with those flyers, meeting your neighbors, know your neighbors from top to bottom,” says Jean.

While the city of Portland does not manage neighborhood watches any longer, it does offer public safety training. It tells KATU it has provided training for 19 people since January 2022.

So is this the way of the future in Portland? With limited resources, do neighbors need to coalesce and manage more themselves?

These women think so. And keep in mind if you come to this part of town, the Neighborhood Watch is watching.