If there’s one thing most people can agree on, it’s that they would rather live in a safe and secure environment than one full of danger and crime. However, as much as we might depend on the police to keep us safe, the truth is that they can only do so much. Keeping our neighborhoods safe also requires residents to share responsibility with active participation.
By taking the right proactive measures, and communicating with your neighbors, you can create a safer community for you and your family. Here are some proactive ways you can help prevent crime in your neighborhood.
Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
Neighborhood watch programs are a great way to engage everyone in your community to do their part to keep everyone safe. Work with your neighbors and local police to establish a schedule of who will watch on what shift. Besides taking turns on your watch, you should also organize regular meetings so you can communicate with each other.
Make sure that everyone does their part to report suspicious activity, and implement necessary security measures. From collective security cameras to alarms, the more proactive you are in your neighborhood with your neighborhood watch program, the less likely criminals are to dare commit a crime in your area.
Boost Your Home Security
The more everyone in your neighborhood secures their homes, the more it will deter criminals. It’s important to evaluate your home’s current state of security. What are some vulnerable parts of your home that you could make improvements on? Perhaps your garage door could be pulled open with enough force. Maybe your windows are over 20 years old, and not resistant enough should a burglar want to make its way in.
Replace your locks, install a security system, and encourage your neighbors to do so too. Consider forming a neighborhood group of interested buyers and approach a security vendor for a special discount. If multiple people on your street are willing to invest in their security product, then they may be willing to give you a significant discount.
Keep The Peace With Neighbors
The stronger a relationship you have with your neighbors, the more likely you are to be supported. In other words, if you say hello to your neighbors regularly, and they spot something suspicious in your home one day, they’re much more likely to tell you. However, if you have a strained relationship or they don’t relate to you on any level, then they’ll be much less likely to take the time to bring a problem to your attention. Neighbors who have good relationships look out for each other, and in turn, a neighborhood is much safer because of it.
Foster a sense of community and camaraderie, and you’ll be doing your entire neighborhood a great service.
