Join Leesburg Police at National Night Out Aug. 5

Lock your doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening with neighbors and the Leesburg Police Department at the 31st annual National Night Out.

National Night Out is designed to: 

1. Heighten crime and drug awareness
2. Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs
3. Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
4. Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The event takes place Tuesday, Aug. 5 at the Exeter Clubhouse, located at 390 Plaza Street in Leesburg from 6 to 9 p.m.

National Night Out is sponsored by National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and co-sponsored locally by Leesburg Police Department and Target with catering provided by Wegmans. The annual event is expected to draw more than 37 million people in more than 15,000 communities.

More about the event from the Leesburg Police Department:

• “Gifts donated by Target and Kohl’s will be distributed at the site to children 15 years of age and younger with parental consent. To be eligible for the gift drawing, children must complete a simple form that asks what phone numbers are used to contact the police. They also have to get two officer’s signatures before they can turn in the ticket for a raffle ticket. Winners will receive gift cards and coupons donated by Chick-fil-A, Cobb Theatre, Giant, Target, and Wal-Mart.
• "Events for children will include the ROCK program moonbounce, Leesburg Parks and Recreation will have a tennis court game and McGruff the Crime Dog will be handing out Junior Officer Badges. The LPD Barrel Train will be at the event to provide rides for the kids and Good Knight Child Empowerment Network program will be handing out materials on child safety.”

For more information, contact Master Police Officer H.M. Maupin of the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500 or hmaupin@leesburgva.gov.