Prevent crime in your neighborhood
Prevent crime in your neighborhood and want to make a few new friends and add crime fighting to your dream superhero status?
Fortunately, when it comes to preventing crime and increasing the quality of life in your neighborhood, there are easy steps you can take to make a big impact. With many law enforcement agencies cutting costs or working harder, it’s more important than ever for homeowners to work together and be alert. (No tights are required, and a cape is optional.)
Preventing home break-ins and more
From preventing vandalism, break-ins, auto theft or mailbox robberies, working with other home and business owners can go a long way in improving your area and keeping it safe. What better time than summer to gather neighbors and make plans?
Beyond arming your home’s security system, keeping your doors locked, and being aware of suspicious activities in your area, there are simple actions you can take to prevent crime:
- Help keep your neighborhood clean and orderly
- Meet and stay connected to local law enforcement
- Raise awareness and increase communications with your neighbors
- If your home alarm system includes video cameras, use them to monitor suspicious activity, such as people going door-to-door, looking for easy entry
- Homeowners who use an alarm monitoring company should prominently display their security yard signs, which are proven deterrents to crime
- Recruit and organize as many neighbors as possible
- Contact your local law enforcement agency and schedule a meeting
- Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan
- Create a communication plan
- Take action by holding meetings and events
- Consider linking with an existing organization, such as a citizens’ association, community development office, tenants’ association, or housing authority.
- Ask people who stay home often to be “window watchers” and report any unusual activities in the neighborhood.
- Translate crime and drug prevention materials into other languages needed by non-English speakers in your community.
- Sponsor a crime prevention fair at a church, temple, community center or school.
- Hold cleanups to beautify the area, and ask neighbors to turn on outdoor lights at night.
- Work with businesses to repair storefronts, clean up streets, and create jobs for youth.