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What to do if crime rises in your neighborhood

Crime Stats, Homeowner Tips

A women walking

If you’ve lived in your neighborhood for a while, it’s likely that crime rates have stayed consistent.

But if something has changed recently–perhaps there are more break-ins or robberies in your area–you should take steps to protect yourself and your property.

We’ve put together this list of tips from law enforcement agencies around the country to help make sure that happens:

Don’t leave valuables in your car.
  • Make sure your car is locked and that you take all keys out of the ignition when it’s parked, even if you’re locking up for just a few minutes.
  • If you have to leave something in the car, put it out of sight and lock your door immediately after getting back into the vehicle—or better yet, go inside with it!
  • Never leave purses or wallets in the open or visible through windows or sunroofs; they’re an easy target for thieves.
  • Keep anything valuable hidden away from view, such as GPS systems and phones that charge via USB cables–these can easily be taken by someone who knows how to use them (or simply steals them for parts).
Install a home security system
  • One of the best things you can do is to install an EMC Security home security system that is monitored 24/7. If someone attempts to break into your home, EMC Security will notify the police for help. They will also inform them if any sensors were tripped so that officers know what they may be walking into when they arrive on scene.
  • Security systems come with different types of sensors, but all of them have one thing in common: they detect motion and send alerts to the monitoring company if they sense something suspicious happening around your house or car. You should consider adding cameras so that video footage also gets recorded if an incident occurs while no one is present at home (or while someone is sleeping).
House diagram
Eyes, ears, and lighting
  • While you’re away, keep an eye on your home. A trusted neighbor or friend can check on it daily, or at least once a week. If you live in a gated community, ask your community association to play a role in keeping an eye on homes when the owners are not present.
  • If you live in an ungated area, consider adding lighting around your property so that criminals know they’ll be seen if they come into your yard at night. You may want to install motion-activated lights and cameras outside your home so that anyone entering the property can be seen clearly by neighbors or passersby.
Lock the doors and windows to your house at all times.
  • Never leave keys in the locks of your car, even if you’re just leaving it for a few minutes.
  • If you have a garage, make sure it’s locked when not in use.

 

Use timers to make it look like someone’s always home
  • You can use timers to make it look like someone is home when they’re not. Set lights to turn on and off at different times of the day, so it looks like there’s activity going on in your house. If you have a security camera, set it up to turn on and off every few minutes so neighbors think you’re always watching what’s happening outside.
  • If you’ve got a TV or radio with a timer, use that too: set it to turn on at different times of the day so neighbors think someone is listening to music or watching TV while they’re at work during the day.
Install a security camera in your front yard or close to your doorbell
  • You can easily install a security camera near your front door. Many of these cameras are small and inconspicuous. They connect to Wi-Fi and can be monitored from your phone or computer, so you’ll always know when someone is at your door.

A mailman

 

Be vigilant.
  • If you see something suspicious, it’s important to be aware of what’s happening around you and let neighbors know if they haven’t already called the police. While most neighborhood watch programs simply encourage members to call the police if they notice anything suspicious, some are more involved—they may even send emails about potential crime trends or tips on how to keep your home safe. If your program doesn’t have this level of involvement, consider starting one yourself!
You can take steps to help prevent crime from happening in your neighborhood.
  • Get to know your neighbors. People who are well-known in their communities and have good relationships with their neighbors are often the first to hear about suspicious activity in their neighborhood.
  • Report all suspicious activity immediately. If you see or hear something that makes you feel uncomfortable, report it to the authorities—and I promise, the police don’t bite!
  • Keep valuables out of sight, secure them in a safe place (a strong box is ideal), and never leave them unattended outside even for a moment—if someone sees them lying around unsecured they’re more likely to try stealing them! And remember: if they can’t see it then they won’t bother trying anything with it either!

It’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your family. If you see something suspicious going on in your neighborhood, don’t be afraid to report it! You should also keep an eye out for things like burglaries or robberies happening around town.