Security Advice #009 - How To Reduce Crime In Your Neighborhood
While we don't like to talk about it - or even think about
it - crime is on the increase in America, and throughout
the world. The number of burglars, muggers, auto thieves,
robbers, purse snatchers, etc., is growing at an alarming
rate. Now you, as a resident, working with neighbors can
help reduce the crime rate.
How? By organizing and/or joining a neighborhood program in
which you and your neighbors get together to learn how to
protect yourselves, your family, your home and your
property. Working together, you can get the criminals off
your block and out of your area.
There's safety in numbers and power through working with a
group. You'll get to know your neighbors better, and
working with them you can reduce crime, develop a more
united community, provide an avenue of communications
between police and citizens, establish on-going crime
prevention techniques in your neighborhood, and renew
citizen interest in community activity.
"Citizens Safety Projects" are set up to help you do this.
It is a joint effort between private citizens and local
police. Such programs have been started all over the
country. Maybe one already exists in your community.
These organizations don't require frequent meetings (once a
month or so). They don't ask anyone to take personal risks
to prevent crime. They leave the responsibility for
catching criminals where it belongs - with the police. This
is NOT a "vigilante" group:
These groups gather citizens together to learn crime
prevention from local authorities. You cooperate with your
neighbors to report suspicious activities in the
neighborhood, to keep an eye on homes when the resident is
away, and to keep everyone in the area mindful of the
standard precautions for property and self that should
always be taken. Criminals avoid neighborhoods where such
groups exist.
Through cooperation with local law enforcement agencies,
some of the things you will learn - and all free - are:
1. What to do in an emergency.
2. How to best identify a suspicious person.
3. How to identify a vehicle being used in a suspected
criminal activity.
4. Signs to watch out for before entering a house or
apartment that may be in the process of being burglarized.
5. What to do in case of injury.
6. What to do about suspicious people loitering on your
street.
7. How to identify stolen merchandise.
8. How to recognize auto theft in progress.
9. How to protect your house or apartment.
10. How to recognize a burglary in progress.
11. How to protect yourself and family - and much more.
It's easy to get your group started. All you have to do is
contact your neighbors and arrange a date, place and time
for the first meeting. Hold the meetings at your home or
that of a neighbor. Try to plan a time that is convenient
to most of your neighbors - preferably in the evening.
Then call your local police department. They will be happy
to give your group informal lectures, free literature - and
in many instances, window stickers and I.D. cards.
Remember, police officers can't be everywhere. Your
cooperation with them is for the benefit of you, your
family, your neighbors and your neighborhood.
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Please visit http://www.visec.net for more security related
information.
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