Neighborhood watch

Illustration of a woman and child on a walking path.

Neighborhood watch is a joint initiative of Reykjavík City, the capital area police, and local residents, centered on neighbors working together to prevent crime.

Neighborhood watch has long proven to be an effective tool in reducing home and vehicle break-ins as well as general property theft. In areas with an active neighborhood watch, vandalism has also declined.

Goals of neighborhood watch

The primary goal of neighborhood watch is to deter crime on your street or in your neighborhood while bringing residents together to create a safer, more enjoyable community.

Good neighbors - good city

In a neighborhood watch, residents serve as the "eyes and ears" of their street or neighborhood. Connect with neighbors on your street to discuss neighborhood watch and how to carry it out.

Our goal is to build a friendly, trustworthy, and resilient community in Reykjavík. Keep the following guidance in mind when participating in neighborhood watch.

What neighborhood watch involves:

  • Keeping an eye out for vehicle and pedestrian activity around nearby homes
  • Ensuring mail does not pile up in a neighbor's mailbox
  • Putting trash in a neighbor's trash can when they are away for an extended period
  • Parking your car in a neighbor's driveway
  • Walking up to a neighbor's home occasionally when snow is on the ground to make the house appear occupied

Window stickers

Neighborhood watch signs posted years ago can still be found throughout Reykjavík's neighborhoods.

 

New neighborhood watch stickers are now being produced for residents to place on windows near front or balcony doors.

 

Stickers are available at the Reykjavík City service center at Borgartún 12-14 and at Reykjavík City Hall. 

Neighborhood watch sign.

Hvað þarf að gera til að fá skiltið Nágrannavarsla?

Reglur um úthlutun nágrannavörslu skilta

  1. Allir íbúar Reykjavíkurborgar geta sótt um nágrannavörsluskilti.  
  2. Umsækjandi skal staðfesta að samráð hafi farið fram við íbúa viðkomandi götu eða svæðis með því að haka við eftirfarandi yfirlýsingu í umsókn: „Ég staðfesti að ég hafi haft samráð við íbúa götunnar og að við höfum komið okkur saman um að taka þátt í nágrannavörslu.“
  3. Umsækjandi greiðir kostnað vegna framleiðslu skiltisins samkvæmt gjaldskrá framleiðanda. Verð kemur fram á vefsíðu.
  4. Reykjavíkurborg greiðir kostnað vegna uppsetningar skiltisins.
  5. Reykjavíkurborg áskilur sér rétt til að ákveða endanlega staðsetningu skiltisins með hliðsjón af umferðaröryggi, tæknilegum atriðum og öðrum skipulagslegum sjónarmiðum. Við ákvörðun skal eftir fremsta megni tekið mið af óskum umsækjanda. 

Umsóknarferli

Umsókn er lögð fram í gegnum rafrænt eyðublað á “Mínum síðum” sem verður aðgengilegt í hlekk á vefsíðu Reykjavíkurborgar um nágrannavörslu.

  1. Umsækjandi tilgreinir:
    • Nafn eða tengiliðaupplýsingar og reikningsupplýsingar.
    • Götu eða svæði sem umsóknin nær til.
    • Ósk um nákvæma staðsetningu skiltis.
  2. Umsókn berst framleiðanda skiltisins sem annast framleiðslu og innheimtu kostnaðar frá umsækjanda.
  3. Að greiðslu lokinni er Reykjavíkurborg upplýst um að skilti sé tilbúið til uppsetningar.  
  4. Reykjavíkurborg ákveður staðsetningu skiltisins, sér um að sækja það til framleiðanda og koma því fyrir á viðeigandi stað.

Ábyrgð

  • Reykjavíkurborg ber ábyrgð á vali á staðsetningu og uppsetningu skiltis.
  • Umsækjandi ber ábyrgð á að upplýsingar í umsókn séu réttar og að samráð við íbúa hafi átt sér stað.  
  • Ekki er heimilt að setja upp nágrannavörsluskilti á borgarlandi nema með samþykki Reykjavíkurborgar 
Aerial view of the area and surroundings

Helpful tips

Most break-ins occur at night while neighbors are asleep, or during the day when residents are at work or school

  • Always keep front and back doors locked — even when someone is home
  • Avoid leaving valuables in plain sight where passersby can easily see them from outside
  • Thieves have occasionally slipped into building entryways to steal wallets, phones, or car keys left in plain sight
  • Having a neighbor hold a spare key
Major busy roads in Reykjavík

Travel

  • Never leave valuables in vehicles
  • Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your home
  • Let them know who is likely to be seen around the house, providing a description and license plate number if possible
  • Do not post on social media that you are going away on a trip
Neighborhood watch is a joint initiative of Reykjavík City, the capital area police, and local residents, centered on neighbors working together to prevent crime.

The right response

  • The burglar may still be on the premises.Use caution — do not enter the home if you think someone may still be inside
  • Call the police immediately at 112 and report the break-in.If you return home to find your home broken into, do not touch anything until the police arrive.
  • If you notice an unfamiliar car parked outside, record the license plate number — for example, by photographing the vehicle.
  • A community where neighbors come together to build safer, stronger, and more connected neighborhoods.