Times have definitely changed, to a point where neighborhood settings aren’t exactly how they used to be 10 years ago. You won’t see kids playing in the street as much or families having very personal bonds with each other from different households.
What we often overlook during these times is how much safer it used to feel a few years ago because nowadays, we usually don’t even know our neighbors.
Neighborhood safety is always a collaborative effort, and it can do wonders for the community we live in. Taking the first step towards that initiative might just be what’s needed, and maybe it needs to start with you.
That being said, here are some initiatives you can introduce in your community to make it safer:
Get To Know Your Neighbors
Before taking any initiative, it’s imperative that you familiarize yourself with the families living around you and vice versa. Not only will this break the ice or build a bond, but it’ll also give you an insight into their lives, which might allow you to help them from time to time.
Offer get-togethers to your neighbors, not just indoor dinners but outdoor barbeques. These allow you to socialize and your children to do the same, all while getting time outdoors, which is critical to their development.
Collective Community Efforts
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the people around you, discuss joint activities like neighborhood watch groups or a neighborhood calling tree. This way, if anything within your community is amiss, it’ll be in everyone’s best interest to display a sense of unity and collectively work towards mitigating the problem.
Technology has redefined personal security in today’s world. From neighborhood safety apps like Saferwatch to CCTV, people within any community can now collaborate more efficiently than ever if it ever comes to working together.
Maintain Your Home And Exercise Caution
A well-maintained home is something a burglar will give lesser preference to as opposed to one that isn’t. It naturally gives off the feel of being a hassle to break into. Moreover, it also offers fewer places to hide. Be sure to have smaller bushes in your yard, make sure your home is well-lit on the inside, and encourage all your neighbors to do the same.
Homeowners can also consider investing in security systems and, through a joint approach, get services in bulk from the same provider, which can, of course, lower the associated costs and provide much more coordinated customer support.
Coordinate with Your Neighbors When You Are Away
It’s very normal having to travel out of city time to time, and this is the time burglars look out for the most because it’s the easiest time to break into a home. Often overlooked, it’s essential to show burglars you’re at home even when you’re not, and there are a few ways to do this.
Collaborate with the people in your community to keep an eye out when you are out of town. You could ask a neighbor to mow your lawn, pick up your mail and newspapers, or even park their car in your driveway when you’re away. Of course, you can also return the favor when it’s their turn.
Improve The Lighting in Your Area
As important as it is to ensure your home is well-lit, it’s equally important to do the same for the street or the neighborhood you live in. Of course, taking care of the entire lighting in the street can be too much of a hassle and cost for one person to take on.
But if an entire neighborhood comes together to do it for their community, that’s an entirely different story. The cost would be minimal when it’s distributed among multiple households. In the same way, all the households could come together to get a private guard for the neighborhood, too, helping everyone feel safer at night.
In order to ensure we have safer communities to live in, joint efforts have become a need of the hour, now more than ever before. We’ve seen from time to time that we’re able to achieve the most when people are willing to come together, and protecting ourselves is no different.
With street crimes on the rise in most places, communities can come together to ensure the crime stays off their streets. If you, as a member of the community, sense something isn’t right in your area, always notify the authorities and bring it to everyone’s awareness. It may not just mitigate a hassle but even save a life.
