In 2016 the Astoria Police Department started working with several Astoria business owners, apartment complex manager/owners, and commercial property owners to try out a program that has been successfully used by several other police departments in Oregon. The program helps reduce unwanted activity that occurs after business hours or when the person responsible for that property, or business, is not on site. The trial run showed promise and in 2017, the program was introduced as Property Watch. During 2017, 36 different commercial properties and businesses signed up. In 2018, 68 different properties in the City of Astoria signed up for the Property Watch program.
There is no cost to be a member of this program and it is open to commercial properties, businesses, and apartment complexes that are in the city limits of Astoria. This program is not available to single family residential houses.
By being a member of this program, Astoria Police Officers are able to assist those participating in the program by helping curtail unwanted activity that occurs after business hours, or when the owner (or manager) is not available. An example would be that the Astoria Police would have the legal authority to ask the person that is loitering in the parking lot at 3:00 am to leave the property. Unless the police have specific authority granted to them by the property owner, or manager, the police can be limited to what they could do regarding non-criminal activity.
I would like to know more about Property Watch...
If you would like to know more about the Property Watch program click the link above. If you have additional questions, email Sgt. Andrew Randall at arandall@astoria.gov.
Download 2019 Property Watch Agreement
