What is Neighbors?
Neighbors is Ring’s free, app-based neighborhood watch feature that alerts you to crime and safety events in a radius of up to 5 miles around your home. You don’t need any Ring devices to use Neighbors because the company also offers a standalone Neighbors app for iOS and Android devices. The link to download the app is here.
How does it work?
Anyone with a smartphone can download the Neighbors app to receive updates and have the option to post photographs or videos from any device.
Once you create a post, it shows up in two spots in the app: on a map of the designated area and in a timeline, along with photos and video, if you share those as well. You do not have to share digital media to create a Neighbors post.
Users should only post about crime, safety, unusual activity, and lost pets. However, they are also encouraged to share acts of kindness. It is always good to catch someone being awesome!
The Neighbors app uses your address to create a radius around your home. When posting or commenting on Neighbors, your real identity is not published, but the post is public to other Neighbors app users. If anyone shares a post about crime or safety within that radius, you’ll get a notification on your phone and tablet. Conversely, if you share a post about a crime or safety issue in your radius, your neighbors will also get a notification on their phones and tablets. You can then comment on these posts to provide 
additional information about local issues, give tips to avoid affected areas, and share photos or videos to help neighbors stay safe and informed.
Only content that a Neighbors user chooses to share on the Neighbors app is publicly accessible through the Neighbors app or by the West Goshen Police.
How do public safety agencies such as the West Goshen police use the Neighbors app?
The Neighbors app provides local public safety agencies with a tool to help them better engage with and inform the communities they serve. Neighbors is a meeting place for every community member, which includes local public safety agencies. When communities and local public safety agencies work together, we believe that safer neighborhoods can become a reality.
The West Goshen police can now share real-time crime information, crime trends in the area, safety tips, missing person information, and even lost pets.
We can also view what users have posted publicly to Neighbors and chime in with relevant updates or safety alerts to help residents stay informed.
The West Goshen police may also submit video requests to help resolve incidents in your area. By working together, we can all continue to make West Goshen Township a safer community.
How do users benefit from local public safety agencies using Neighbors?
Public safety users can post information about crime and safety alerts, view and comment on public posts within their jurisdiction as an identified public safety user.
Public safety users may also create a ‘Request for Assistance’ post on Neighbors asking their community to assist with an active investigation. Ring users can choose to share information or video recordings in response to a Request for Assistance Post.
Do I still need to file a police report when posting a crime-related incident to the app?
Yes. The Neighbors app is not monitored by public safety agencies 24/7.
Posting on the Neighbors app does not replace filing an official report. Please call the West Goshen police at 610-696-7400 to file a police report.
Please remember: for emergencies, always call 911.