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More Victorians than ever before gathered to meet their neighbors during National Night Out on Tuesday.

At least 24 neighborhoods hosted block parties, which police hope will be a big boost to crime prevention, Lt. Lillian Alex said.

“To my knowledge, it’s a record,” Alex said. “It’s pretty cool.”

Daniel and Doris Elsik have lived in their home in the 4000 block of Lone Tree Road for more than 50 years.

Elsik and her husband look out for an elderly neighbor, she said, but she’d feel even safer if she knew more people who live around her.

“We haven’t really known all our neighbors,” Elsik said. “Some of them are across the road. This was all pasture when we moved out here.”

Fire Station No. 3 was the site of the neighborhood’s first National Night Out block party. The neighborhood was selected for a clean up by the city and Keep Victoria Beautiful. That group used the block party as a chance to meet the neighbors, executive director Joni Brown said.

Police use the event to promote neighborhood watch.

Tiffany Martinez said she thought that program is a good idea.

“If you get to know your neighbors, your house is safe,” she said.

Her 5-year-old son, Adrian, has seen strangers roam their street, and it frightens him. Martinez would feel safer letting him out to play if she knew more neighbors.

Such interest in crime prevention is spreading throughout the city, Alex said.

“I think more people generally are interested in making sure their property is protected,” Alex said. “We’ve really been getting the message out.”

For neighborhoods that didn’t gather for ice cream socials, barbecues or potlucks Tuesday, it’s not too late to organize a night out, Alex said. Neighbors ask officers from community services to attend block parties, she said.