The Pecan Grove neighborhood in Washington has a new sign. It doesn’t hold the neighborhood name, nor a street name, but it does hold a warning: this a neighborhood that looks out for its own.

Pecan Grove is part of a growing trend in Washington, as neighbors reach out to one another and Washington police to revive the community watch. Wednesday, members of the community came out to watch Washington Police Department officers put up the new community watch sign on West Ninth Street, offering prayers for the people who live in the neighborhood and the officers who ensure their safety.

Pecan Grove stretches from Carolina Avenue to 11^th Street, from Washington Street to Pierce Street — a 10-block area that’s seen its share of crime over the last decade, according to Thornton Gorham, former head of the Washington Community Care Coalition and the force behind reinstituting the newest community watch installation.

“We’re starting in the hot spots,” Gorham said Wednesday. “And this is one of the hot spots. There’s more activity going on here than the rest of the neighborhood.”

It’s not Gorham’s first time setting up a community watch: he did the same in 1997, with great results, but the last couple of years had seen a resurgence of crime, he said.

Gorham walked around the neighborhood earlier in the week, knocking on doors, letting residents know about the revived watch. For Kimberly Grimes, WPD’s community outreach coordinator, the effort put forth by the neighborhoods who’ve signed on is heartening.

“I’m just so appreciative of how the communities are stepping up and being a part of this,” Grimes said.

“I hope this is just the beginning,” Gorham said. “The people can’t do it without the police and the police can’t do it without the community.

Those gathered for event were told not to hesitate to call police if they see suspicious activity in the neighborhood, and also were advised by Washington Police and Fire Services Director Stacy Drakeford to take precautions to prevent crime, as well: “Be vigilant. Lock your car doors at night.”