Crime can happen anywhere, at any time, so it’s important to stay vigilant. While there are safety measures your association may take to deter crime, it’s crucial for each individual homeowner to contribute to their own safety.

 
Though crime can’t always be evaded, you can still significantly lower the risk with easy precautions! Below are some simple steps for crime prevention.

Secure your house and car.

  • Lock your front, back, and side doors, and install additional locks to make it difficult to break in.
  • Install a home security system. Alarms not only provide peace of mind but also work as an effective deterrent for burglary.
  • Make sure the garage door lock is secure and lock the door within garage that has access to the house.
  • Lock your car doors and don’t keep garage openers or keys inside, as locked cars are less likely to be a target.

Make your house appear occupied at all times.

  • Turn your lights on at night and install a timer for when you’re away, so it looks like someone is home.
  • Maintain your yard, so the household will not appear to be vacated.
  • Try to track when packages will arrive and bring them inside as quickly as possible to prevent theft, and also ensure it doesn’t look like someone isn’t home, even during the day.
  • Make accommodations for delivered packages if you won’t be home for a while. You can request to pick up the package from the delivery company’s store or have a neighbor hold onto them until you return.
  • Don’t post on social media that you’ll be on vacation or indicate how long you will be gone. Instead, wait to post pictures when you return.
  • Cover windows with curtains or blinds to maintain privacy and not invite people to scope out your belongings.

Familiarize yourself with your community.

  • Be aware of who your neighbors are, so you can recognize suspicious strangers and vehicles. It’s also always helpful to have another set of eyes, as you can look out for your neighbors and vice versa.
  • Communicate with neighbors about travel plans, so they can keep an eye out while you’re gone.

Exercise caution when answering the door.

  • Install and utilize technology such as Ring to see who is at your door without opening it or peering out the window, as they might see you and persist knocking. Ring or a similar device also allows you communicate with who’s at the door when you’re away from home.
  • Request identification from people you don’t know, even if they look like an official.
  • Post a no solicitation sign near your door to deter unwanted solicitation.

Make valuables and documents inaccessible.

  • Don’t keep valuables in plain sight, especially in your car. Try to find an unusual spot to keep expensive effects, so they aren’t easily found if an intruder does break in.
  • Shred sensitive documents before disposing them. You can purchase a paper shredder for your home or check to see if your city or county is offering a shredding event near you.

 

Your safety can be increased by practicing these basic steps to protect your property from crime, keeping your mind at ease and your family protected. Here at Spectrum, we value the safety and security of our customers. Stay safe, and stay vigilant!