Neighborhood Council Valley Village hosted a Neighborhood Watch Town Hall on May 6 to discuss topics related to safety and crime in Valley Village. The meeting was sponsored by NCVV’s City Services Committee chaired by NCVV Vice President Suzanne Lewis.
NCVV President Tony Braswell and Valley Village Residents Association President Tim Thornton welcomed more than 60 residents who joined the meeting. NCVV Board member and Neighborhood Watch Chair Danny Brady facilitated a one hour question and answer session with Senior Lead Officer Kurtis Delbar. Officer Delbar shared multiple tips on home safety including:
- Don’t keep all valuables in the primary bedroom. Spread items throughout the house in less obvious places
- If a burglary happens while you are home: prioritize safety, leave or secure yourself safely inside, and call 911. Do not confront suspects directly
- One of the best deterrents is making the home look lived in (lights, TVs, radios, timers, cars in driveway, etc.)
- Dogs, alarm systems, and pepper spray/mace were all recommended as effective deterrents and safety tools
- Vacation safety tips: avoid posting trips on social media in real time, have neighbors collect packages/trash cans, stop mail if needed, and keep the home looking occupied
Everyone joining the meeting was treated to pizza and salads from Joe Peep’s Pizza on Magnolia Boulevard. The office of City Councilman Adrin Nazarian and a representative from Interagency Response, a private security patrol working in Valley Village, also joined the meeting.
“The key takeaway from tonight’s meeting is we need to get to know our neighbors” said Brady. Officer Delbar encouraged neighbor text chains that bring households together to focus on safety communication. Delbar added “Even a small network where neighbors recognize each other’s cars, routines and visitors makes it significantly harder for criminals to operate unnoticed”.
NCVV will host another safety town hall later in 2026.
