You sleepily answer your ringing phone at 2 a.m., only to hear an apologetic voice: “Sorry to wake you, but this is the Spring Creek Volunteers in Patrol.”
Your immediate thought is that you left your garage door open. While common, that is actually the least problematic scenario patrollers encounter. Other residents have awakened to learn their house was on fire, vehicles parked on the street were vandalized, or a gas leak in an alley required an emergency dispatch. In extreme cases, patrollers have reported an armed suspect fleeing police through the neighborhood and triggered a helicopter search for an elderly resident whose front door was left ajar after midnight.
As members of Dallas’s longest-running VIP program, patrollers have seen almost everything in their three decades monitoring Spring Creek's streets and alleyways. The VIP deters crime by maintaining high visibility and reporting suspicious activity directly to law enforcement.
Important Safety Reminder
Volunteers in Patrol are neighbor volunteers, not police officers or city code enforcement officials. In a real emergency, always dial 911 immediately. For city code violations, dial 311.
The most obvious benefit of a neighborhood patrol is lower crime, which boosts neighborhood desirability and property values. Spring Creek remains a magnet for prospective buyers seeking a safe, vibrant community of retirees, empty nesters, young families, and newlyweds.
“Having the VIP adds incredible value for buyers looking at Spring Creek,” explains Kathy Harris, a 20-year resident and local realtor who gives VIP brochures to new homeowners. “It shows how much neighbors care about protecting the community and how easy it is to get involved. Buyers love how these efforts give Spring Creek a small-town feel right in the middle of the big city.”
Beyond routine patrols, the Spring Creek VIP actively builds community. Over the years, the group has hosted crime watch meetings, installed alleyway address signs for first responders, advocated for city infrastructure improvements, distributed Halloween safety glow sticks to neighborhood kids, and placed front-yard banners honoring veterans on Memorial Day.
To ask questions or share safety concerns, contact the VIP at SCVIP@gmail.com. If you are a new neighbor, sharing your contact info allows patrollers to alert you quickly to hazards or suspicious activity near your home.
The Volunteers in Patrol is a citizen-volunteer outreach program of the Dallas Police Department. The Spring Creek VIP partners with the SCCO to address community safety. Funded entirely by private donations, the VIP thanks all neighbors who contribute when joining or renewing their annual SCCO membership.