Matt Peskin is executive director of the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit crime prevention organization that works with law enforcement and crime watch groups around the country.

CNN: Neighborhood watches are on the front lines in bad economy

Peskin, who estimates that there are about 20, 000 neighborhood watch groups nationwide, said there has been an increase in requests for information on starting groups from all over the country including urban, suburban and rural communities.

CNN: Neighborhood watches are on the front lines in bad economy