Neighbors watching neighbors was common in the fifties but police say it’s a thing of the past and its what they are trying to bring back.

Today is National Night Out, where communities across the country walked against crime. That included right here in the Lowcountry. 

There were marches and cookouts around Charleston and North Charleston, all meant to get neighbors to meet and talk about what’s going on outside their windows.

This isn’t a shooting or a fire that has these neighbors outside together.

"You get home, you put down the blinds, you lock your door, you sit on your couch and hope nothing happens in your backyard," said North Charleston Police Chief Jon Zumalt.

But some are getting up and out.

"We're telling the drug dealers and criminals, not in our backyard," said Forest Hill resident, Trudy Coffey.

"Were very lucky and as soon as we do see something suspicious, they gave us a number to call and we do," said another Forest Hill resident, Mary Jane Reiss.

For National Night Out, it was a walk around this Forest Hill neighborhood in an effort to meet neighbors and warn criminals that neighbors are watching.

Police urge neighbors to join the local civic organizations and if you ever see anything suspicious contact your local authorities.

Last year, more than 35 million people around the country participated in National Night Out.

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