Business Watch

Business Watch is a crime prevention program that alerts the Corvallis business community to financial crimes. The program is designed primarily to help protect businesses that conduct cash, check, credit card, and debit card transactions. Most members are retail businesses and financial institutions. However, all businesses are welcome to enroll. The program is free.

Why Enroll?

Business Watch works. Businesses enrolled in the program have avoided financial loss by not accepting checks from persons named in bad-check alerts. And the Corvallis Police have made arrests and have recovered and returned stolen property as a result of Business Watch members responding to crime alerts.

What are Crime Alerts?

As the Corvallis Police Department becomes aware of financial crimes it sends alerts, by e-mail, to the Business Watch membership. Alerts warn members of potential criminal acts. Alerts provide names and descriptions of persons passing stolen, counterfeit, or otherwise fraudulent checks. Alerts also notify members of stolen identities, stolen credit and debit cards, stolen checks, stolen jewelry, counterfeit money, computer and e-mail scams, confidence schemes, shoplifters, area vandalism, and other criminal activity as it occurs.

In addition to these alerts initiated by the Corvallis Police Department, member businesses that want to warn others about a person or act that effected their business may request that the Department issue an alert.

How do I Enroll?

To learn more about the Business Watch program or to enroll, you can visit the Corvallis Police website. Enrollment is free, it is easy, and it can be done in less than two minutes by e-mail at businesswatch@ci.corvallis.or.us. You will need only the name, street address, and phone number of the business along with the name and e-mail address of the person to receive the alerts. Upon enrollment, the Corvallis Police Department will send to you a free window decal that warns perpetrators that your business is connected with the Corvallis Police and receives crime alerts.