For many people, calling the police to deal with nuisance behavior is an overreaction. Individuals can do so many other things to help keep their neighborhoods safe without having to call the authorities. One such option is always being aware of your surroundings and watching out for suspicious behavior —something countless statistics show will reduce crime rates by 90%. To get you started, here are seven ways to keep your neighborhood safe without calling the police.
1) Watch out for Suspicious Behavior
Be alert for suspicious behavior in or near your home or community. It can be anything from people acting strangely on street corners to individuals with weapons hanging around them regularly. If you can notice these types of things, be sure to report them immediately.
If you see something that doesn’t seem right, let police authorities know by calling 911 straight away if possible.
2) Discourage Teens from Loitering
Teens often hang around outside of their homes after school or work. If you feel like there’s a group of kids hanging around a particular area, there is a product called The Mosquito Device, which emits a high-frequency sound that only people under 25 can hear. The noise is irritating and will discourage teens from congregating in an area.
3) Don’t let strangers inside
This tip is similar to one saying not to leave doors unlocked. If you’re going to let a stranger inside your house, be sure to ask for ID if they refuse to show any immediately. It is even suggested that you ask for their phone number after they enter the house so you can call the authorities if they suddenly disappear.
4) Secure Your Home
People do something else out of habit, leaving their front door and garage wide open, which isn’t a good thing because anyone with bad intentions can quickly enter your home.
5) Don’t leave your doors unlocked
Although it’s not recommended that you leave your doors unlocked at all times, it is something that many people do out of habit. It can be easy to forget to lock your door at night. However, if you always leave your doors unlocked, it’s just a matter of time before someone enters your house without your permission.
6) Get to know your neighbors
It’s important to know your neighbors. They can be a source of information when trying to avoid trouble in your neighborhood. If you ask around, you may learn that many other community members have witnessed the same suspicious behavior.
7) Turn the Tables
The police aren’t the only ones who might be helpful in your neighborhood watch group. Your friends and family can help you by giving information about people hanging around your community. In addition, you can go around your neighborhood and get a sense of what’s happening in your area by asking people you know personally.
These are just a few simple and effective ways to keep your neighborhood safe without calling the authorities. Anyone can do something to keep their neighborhood safe, even if it’s just taking a few minutes out of the day to take care of these tasks. For those needing more help, numerous police and crime prevention guides are available online.