Expert Insights on Community Safety

Know the people in your neighborhood.

Get to know the people in your neighborhood so you can recognize suspicious people.

Be aware of your neighbor's habits. When are they at work, and do they have small children or teenagers? Are they elderly and in need of extra assistance on occasion? This awareness will make the neighborhood a much tighter community with less neighbor hostility and crime.

Keep your vacation dates off social media.

Many folks share news of upcoming vacations on social media. However, if you do that, you essentially set yourself up as a target for burglars. Criminals actively monitor public social media profiles on platforms like Facebook and Instagram to identify when residents will be away from home, then use that window of opportunity to break in.

Make use of timers.

Timers are a simple but effective deterrent, especially on nights you won't be home. Set one to turn lights on and off at specific times to make your house look occupied. You can also randomize your lighting with a timer to make it harder for a burglar to plan their attack around your regular comings and goings.

Lock all doors and windows.

Many homes have multiple doors and windows. Burglars need just one unlocked entry point, and it can be easy for residents to overlook one or two locks. For optimal safety, lock all doors and securely fasten all windows. If you have any sliding doors, place a rod in the track to prevent thieves from forcing the door open and entering. Last but not least, consider a video doorbell camera for when you are home alone or not home.

Utilize blinds and curtains.

Blinds and curtains are especially important after dark, when the interior of a lit home is clearly visible from outside. Without them, a would-be burglar can easily track your movements, spot where you keep valuables, and identify which rooms are empty. Make it a habit to close the blinds and draw the curtains each evening to keep prying eyes from gathering the kind of intel that puts your home at risk.

Install motion-sensor lights outside of your home.

Burglars don’t like motion-sensor lights since they’re bright and shine a spotlight on illicit activity. They switch on quickly, motivating would-be burglars to flee and never return. These lights are also an excellent way for you to know when someone approaches your home.

Keep your neighbors informed.

It's always smart to get to know your neighbors and reach a level where you can trust at least one. If you plan to be away for a few days, give a copy of your keys to trusted neighbors so they can make sure everything is okay at home.

• Inform a trusted neighbor that you will be away for a few days if there's a vacation coming up.
• Give them a copy of your keys. This way, they can make sure that everything is okay at home.
• Mail piling up at your door is a dead giveaway that nobody's home — a classic green flag for opportunistic intruders. Ask a neighbor to take in your mail and hold it until you're back.
• If you have a car, you may also want to ask your neighbor to move your car around to make it appear as if you are home.
• Are you a pet owner? Your neighbors can make sure that your pets are safe and sound, and well-fed!
• Of course, it goes the other way, too. If neighbors need help, you can be there for them and report any suspicious behavior around their home if you see it.
• Consider a program such as Neighbors by Ring. You don’t need a Ring device, and neighbors can easily share updates (crime, suspicious people, lost pets, etc.). If you have issues with too many comments or comments that bother you, the app gives you the ability to customize notifications.
• Put together a quick neighborhood contact list with a handful of trusted neighbors. Keep it somewhere easy to find — on the fridge, saved in your phone — so you can reach someone fast during an emergency.

Be conservative with your pricey possessions.

You probably don’t mean to flaunt significant purchases like a brand-new iMac. Take the time to deconstruct the boxes these purchases came in. Hide the boxes to ensure passers-by can’t easily see or find them.

Get a guard dog.

Not only do dogs make excellent pets, they can be great members of the community. Thieves tend to stay away from homes with loud barking dogs. If you don't have a dog, it couldn't hurt to place a “beware of dog” sign somewhere visible on the outside of your home. A dog doesn’t replace your home security system, but a good guard dog can intimidate intruders and make them think twice. Do some research into the best guard dog breeds to find one that fits your lifestyle and home.

Start a Neighborhood Watch.

A neighborhood watch program can go a long way toward keeping your home and family safe. The time investment is minimal, and you shouldn’t need to take personal risks. The police will be the ones responsible for investigating suspicious activity and arresting suspects.

The goals of your neighborhood watch should be to facilitate increased awareness of suspicious activity and pave the way for quick communication with the police. The net result: Greatly increased chances of preventing crime. Here are a few steps to starting a neighborhood watch.

Think carefully about the pros and cons of incorporating a community safety app like Neighbors by Ring into your watch program. On the upside, it enables fast neighborhood-wide communication and real-time alerts — and anyone can participate, even without Ring devices.

Cons include the propensity toward unwanted comments and even racial bias. There can also be way too many comments to deal with. You can customize notifications, but some folks end up quitting the app altogether. Some of your neighbors might not have smartphones, either. You would ideally have a neighborhood watch that is strong, no matter what.

Consider addressing digital security topics such as Wi-Fi network encryption. Someone could potentially come into your neighborhood, park at the curb, and hack into multiple homes’ Wi-Fi networks.

• Briefly go door to door, explain how the neighborhood watch works, and gauge interest. Take note of any neighbors who show extra interest in the program and are eager to help out. You'll want to assign them to crucial roles so that all the efforts do not fall on your shoulders. Distributing power also helps with teamwork and cooperation throughout the neighborhood. If you live in a large community, you can assign geographical locations with specific individuals as the main point of contact for that specific area.
  You also need to find a designated coordinator to be the go-to person for representing the neighborhood to the local police.
• Get your local police department involved. Work on getting a meeting between the police and your neighborhood watch. Such arrangements are a great way to get to know the officers, learn about crime trends in the area, and brush up on the legal requirements for creating a neighborhood watch. Schedule the meeting two weeks in advance so that there is time for others in the neighborhood to hear about the meeting and get involved.
• Have an action plan in place. After you've established a neighborhood watch, schedule regular meetings to go over goals, progress, concerns, and questions. Reach out to nearby civic groups to expand your network and increase your neighborhood’s involvement in the area.

Keep your yard well maintained.

A tidy yard does more than boost curb appeal — it actually helps deter criminals. Maintained yards indicate an involved community and it reduces hiding spots for burglars. Try to keep a clear line of sight to your entryways, so that criminals breaking in are easily visible from across the street. Large bushes and trees that block the view of your house make it a more likely target for thieves as they can remain hidden while breaking in.

If there is an abandoned house or a house up for sale in your neighborhood, then see if anyone in the community is interested in helping to keep its yard maintained. Empty houses offer an easy escape path for criminals. Abandoned houses also make it easy for someone to hide out, study people’s habits, and calculate the best times to break in. Keeping the yards of vacant or for-sale homes tidy removes that cover and sends a clear signal that the neighborhood is actively watched over.

Never leave anything out in plain sight inside your car.

Yes, even if the doors are locked! Thieves can break through the windows to take your belongings if they feel motivated enough. Don't give anyone any reason to target your car, even if it's something as simple as a blanket. Thieves may think the blanket is there to hide something valuable beneath it. Keep your vehicle completely clear of your possessions to save you the trouble of recovering your valuables and the inconvenience of having to fix broken car windows. To be extra safe, lock your car's compartment and trunk. This way, if someone somehow gets in the car, they can’t go through these parts of the vehicle.

Do not keep garage door openers in a car parked outside.

If you have a garage but park your car outside, start bringing the garage door opener inside with you. It should become as habitual as grabbing your keys and your purse/wallet, and goes a long way to prevent break-ins. Otherwise, burglars could use the opener to gain access to your garage and possibly your home.

Keep personal information hidden by using a paper shredder.

Identity theft is real—and expensive. Use shredders to conceal your personal information before it makes its way to recycling or garbage bins. Unfortunately, having paperwork with your address, credit card information, bank numbers, passwords, phone number, and the like lying around makes you a new target to burglars. Also consider using a top identity theft service to help monitor all of your personal data and be notified as soon as something suspicious happens.

Get a reliable security system installed.

When used properly, some of the best home security systems can help to improve neighborhood safety. KGW News in Portland, Oregon, corresponded with 86 inmates serving time for burglary. Most said security cameras are a deterrent. A visible alarm system sign or smart doorbell offers similar protection, signaling to would-be burglars that your home isn’t worth the risk.

Find out where your local police department is.

You never know when you'll need to visit the police station. Besides, it’s a good idea to drop by and express your desire to keep the neighborhood safe. Don’t hesitate to let the police know about potential dangers such as speeders in areas with children. Everyone benefits when the police are aware of an issue and given a chance to address it. Do keep in mind that the police have many neighborhoods and problems to oversee. It is up to residents to be vigilant citizens and speak up when they need help.

Guarding the Children

In addition to protecting your home, it's also important to be vigilant about your children and their whereabouts. Below are some tips to encourage the safety of kids in your neighborhood, including your children.

Be aware of your children's location.

Have your children ask permission or at least tell you where they are going before leaving the house. Establish a time they need to be home. Have them leave the phone number to where they will be, or give them a cellphone, if possible.
If you use GPS tracking to keep an eye on your children’s location (Android, iOS), let them know. They’ll feel resentful if they later find out you were “spying.” Clear communication is the way to go.

Get your kids well-acquainted with the neighborhood.

Take walks with your kids frequently and show them around the neighborhood on different days and times. This way, if they are ever lost or stumble across a neighbor's kid who may be lost, they can safely find their way home. Also, inform them of potentially unsafe areas. Encourage your children to stick to public, well-lit spaces — steer them away from alleyways or isolated spots where they could be vulnerable — and make sure they're back home before dark.

Know your children's friends

Get to know your children's friends and their parents. Try to meet them beforehand and get all their contact information saved to your phone. Ask what the children will be doing at their house and if they'll be supervised. If you're unable to meet the parents first, then try to talk to them over the phone. Key topics worth bringing up: firearms storage, pools, trampolines, and pets like dogs. Every household is different, so trust your instincts.

Teach problem-solving skills to your children.

Your children will inevitably come across bullies or have confrontations with their friends. Role-play common scenarios that apply to their age group. Coach them to use words to work through conflict rather than resorting to physical confrontation. Help them understand that teasing and making fun of others causes real harm — and doesn't exactly win you any friends.

Give your child a mode of communication.

If your children are old enough to wander off on their own, it may be a good idea to provide them with a cellphone and let them know who they can reach in case of an emergency. This way, they can keep you in the loop while they're out, and you can easily communicate with them when needed. You can even consider a highly ranked medical alert system that calls on emergency responders with the touch of a button.

Set boundaries for where your children can go.

If you live in the city, identify how far away your children can go without you. Just around the block or two blocks? Is it okay for them to cross busy intersections? Is there a dangerous area to avoid? If you live in the country, let them know if there is a river to avoid, or farms with large livestock to stay away from in case the animals charge after them. Also, make sure children are aware of any questionable houses to stay away from, especially abandoned ones.