These are just a few of the symbolic gestures that neighborhoods in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno will make to prove they don't tolerate crime. The local effort is in collaboration with the nationwide 20th annual National Night Out, a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit crime prevention organization.

The event has expanded since its creation in 1984 to include more than just porch lights and an evening vigil, adding block parties, cookouts, safety fairs and parades, plus visits to neighborhoods by police officers.

Crime Prevention Officer Gwen Cross with the Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Department is organizing the local celebration of National Night Out, which will kick off between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Aug. 5 on the front lawn of the civic center, 110 E. Main St. Community members of all ages are invited to participate.

Cross said the California Highway Patrol will be demonstrating proper installation of child safety seats, and the police department will be fingerprinting children and distributing crime prevention materials. In addition, a barbecue lunch and drinks will be available for participants. The police department will be on hand to answer questions from the public as well as displaying their motorcycles, canine unit and Drug Abuse Resistance Education cars.

"We hope to create better relations between the police department and the community in an effort to help the police be better at their jobs," Cross said.

National Night Out, "America's Night Out Against Crime," originated 20 years ago with National Association of Town Watch Executive Director Matt Peskin, who wanted to raise awareness and improve participation in local anti-crime efforts. The first year of the event, 400 communities in 23 states participated. Those numbers have continued to grow, with 33 million people from 9,700 communities in all 50 states participating last year, according to the National Night Out website.

In her 15 years with the police department, Cross said she has seen the department, and more specifically the crime prevention unit, progress rapidly to become more community-oriented.

She said the police department now includes everything from a television program to more educational activities within the community, plus a group of volunteers in policing who perform tasks such as home checks when residents go on vacation.

"It has had an impact on the community," she said. "More people are aware of it."

But Cross stressed National Night Out should not be the only day of the year that citizens work toward stopping crime.

The police department will be joined on Aug. 5 by the Santa Clara County Fire Department, who will be displaying a firetruck and performing fire and life safety demonstrations from a booth at the civic center.

Gina Cali, associate public education officer with the fire department, said the event will feature interactive games, a "stop, drop and roll" station and a smoke detector station.

Cali said children and their parents can learn exactly how to test a smoke detector battery, as well as how to change the battery properly.

"The good news is that most homes have smoke detectors, but the bad news is that most people have removed the battery or the battery is dead," Cali said.

She recommended testing smoke detectors once a month and changing the batteries at least once a year. Cali said between 4,000 and 5,000 people die in house fires every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Cali recommended that when residents reset clocks for daylight savings they also change smoke detector batteries throughout the home.

"When you change your clocks, change the battery," she advised. "When you hear the chirping sound, you have waited too long."

Cali said she would encourage people to participate in National Night Out simply "to prevent injuries from happening in the first place."

Neighborhoods are encouraged to plan block parties and invite their neighbors. Anyone planning a block party in advance can request a police officer to visit the neighborhood by calling 408.354.6842 or by calling the 24-hour police dispatch number at the last minute at 408.354.8600.