South San Francisco dog walker program aims to take a bite out of crime

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- One Bay Area community is taking a bite out of crime, literally by getting people and their pets involved in a new kind of community policing effort. It's called the Dog Walker Watch.

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Most dog owners are focused on their furry friends, or sometimes their phones, when they're out and about.

There is a call for action from South San Francisco police to sign up for a first of its kind Dog Walker Watch program.

Dog walkers are out day and night and can now act as the eyes and ears of the police department. In South San Francisco car break-ins and residential burglaries are the most common crimes, and if dog walkers are paying attention they might catch someone in the act.

"This is strictly them reporting to the p.d.," said Cpl. Jason Pfarr of the South San Francisco police department. "We don't want them endangering themselves or anybody else."

They learned what to look for and what to do about it Thursday evening.

"You have to be aware of what's going on in order to stay safe," said South San Francisco resident Jerry Misek. "It's nice to have people who are walking their dogs be in this program."

"I know some neighborhoods that have a lot of break-ins and I don't want it to happen to ours," said another resident Carole Bogue. "I think it's great."

A second and final Dog Walker Watch training class is scheduled for next Tuesday.

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