Stay Connected to Keep Your Community Safe
There are numerous benefits of living in a community, and safety should always be prioritized. The following guidelines are effective at making your neighbourhood a safer and more enjoyable place to live.
You don’t need to talk to your entire neighbourhood about where you are going on holiday. However, avoid sharing all the details on social media. Criminals can monitor social media profiles, and they might see you going away as an opportunity.
If you know your neighbours a little better, it is good to inform them about your plans, and they may even keep an eye on your property while you are away. If you trust them, you can even leave a key to the house with them in case of an emergency.
This seems like a basic safety precaution, but it is easy to forget doors, windows, or curtains wide open. Doors should be locked when you leave your house or when you go to bed at night.
Curtains can also prevent passers-by from peeking at your household items and furniture. If you make it clear through your bedroom window that you own a large and expensive TV, then it might just be an invitation for criminals.
Alarms are effective at alerting authorities and people in your neighbourhood about unwanted activity inside or outside your home. Law enforcement agencies can quickly be alerted about criminal activities through motion sensors and alarm systems.
Guard dogs can be noisy and a threat to criminals who want to enter your home or property without permission. They can also make you sleep a lot better at night, as they are sensitive to unwanted activity around the house.
A well-kept garden is usually a sign that people are home. A yard or garden that is overgrown and not maintained is usually an indication that people have not been around to maintain it. This lack of maintenance can also be seen as a kind of invitation for trespassers.
The government hosts a variety of programs to help combat crime in communities. However, everyone can contribute to making their neighbourhood a safer place to live.