Abington to Hold ‘Pre-Night Out’ Monday

The Abington Township Joint Town Watch Council, the Abington Police Department and the Abington Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams will host the township’s 14th annual “Pre-Night Out” Monday, Aug. 5. 

The event, held at the parking lot in the corner of Old York and London roads from 5 to 10 p.m., is meant to call attention to the importance of community members working with police to prevent and stop crime, according to David Rondinelli, Abington Police Community Service Supervisor, and chair of the event since its inception.

As its name states, the Pre-Night Out takes place one night before the National Night Out. According to its website, the National Night Out is designed to “heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, and generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs.”

The National Night Out is in its 30th year. To read more about the National Night Out, visit its website here.

Years ago, more people were interested in participating in neighborhood watches and would patrol areas of town in their cars, Rondinelli said in an earlier interview. But now people are too busy and don’t have time. Instead, the police and the Abington Joint Watch Council hope that people will commit to a smaller area.

“We’re forming block watches to look out for their own block and get the community as active as possible,” Rondinelli said. “This is a chance to communicate and connect.

“We like to get people interested in town watch. This night is mobbed,” he continued. “It’s like the boardwalk. We usually have good weather, and there’s so much to do.”

This year’s event will feature many local organizations, including:

• Abington Animal Control

• Abington Police Athletic League

• Abington’s fire companies

• Abington Community Taskforce

• Abington YMCA

• Abington Free Library

• Montgomery County SPCA

• Briar Bush Nature Center 

The Pre-Night Out has a rain date of Aug. 6.

Will you be hitting up the Pre-Night Out this year?