National Night Out Hits the Streets in Eagan on Tuesday

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Expect to see Eagan emergency responders mingling with residents during Eagan's National Night Out, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7.

Roughly 150 neighborhood parties are scheduled as part of the annual awareness event, which involves citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials. More than 15,000 communities from all 50 states and U.S. territories participated in National Night Out 2012, according to information provided by the National Night Out organization.

To see a map of the National Night Out block parties scheduled in Eagan, complete with times and addresses, click here.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

“Good crime prevention strategy is to get to know your neighbors and the comings and goings of them in their neighborhoods," Eagan Police Chief Jim McDonald said. "Ideally if they see something out of the ordinary, they phone the police."

The Eagan Police Department is also helping coordinate a food drive for the during National Night Out, McDonald said. Over the last two years, the department has gathered 2,600 tons of food during National Night Out events.