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A new record has been set in Arlington. As of Monday, Oct. 2, Arlington residents have registered 217 National Night Out gatherings with the Arlington Police Department. The record to beat was 196 set in October 2016. This year, National Night Out is Tuesday, Oct. 3.

The APD Crime Prevention Unit is putting the final touches on the big night. National Night Out is the largest crime prevention event of its kind in the nation. Residents will turn on their porch lights and gather outdoors to connect with their neighbors. Officers will visit gatherings for positive interactions with neighbors. In Arlington, there are block parties, cookouts and gatherings on front laws and in neighborhood parks. Apartment complexes and churches are also involved. The night also involves elected officials, Citizens on Patrol, first responders and officials from a variety of city departments.

Crime Prevention Sergeant Vince Pewitt said the department is monitoring local weather conditions and is encouraging residents to make alternative plans indoors in the event of heavy rainfall tomorrow.

“National Night Out is a celebration of police and community partnerships,” Police Chief Will Johnson said. “It’s an opportunity for us to connect with one another, talk about crime prevention, safe neighborhoods and have a great time together.”

National Night Out is big in Arlington. According to the National Association of Town Watch, the lead organizer of National Night Out, Arlington ranked 2nd among large U.S. cities who took part in the program in 2016. The national ranking is based on a number of factors, including neighborhood participation, law enforcement involvement and the overall quality of an agency’s advertising campaign. Over the past five years, Arlington has ranked in the top five for U.S. cities with populations of 300,000 or more.

To find a neighborhood gathering in Arlington, click on website to view the map.