Everyone wants a safe place to call home, and our associations strives to make all residents feel secure. While we\u2019re diligent in our efforts to reduce possible dangers in our community, we can\u2019t do it alone. It\u2019s up to everyone to pitch in to keep crime rates down. Thankfully, taking a few simple steps can go a long way in keeping theft, vandalism and other felonies and misdemeanors out of the association.<\/p>\n

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Know Your Neighbors.<\/strong> And not just the neighbors on your block, but also the neighbors from all parts of the association. At the very least, you\u2019ll get a better idea of who actually lives (and in turn, who belongs) here. Talking with your neighbors will also give you the chance to find out if there have noticed any crimes or suspicious activity in the association recently so that you can be on the lookout as well. Consider creating and distributing a list with everyone\u2019s contact information so that you and your neighbors can alert each other of any problems that arise. Of course, be sure to get your neighbors\u2019 permission first to put their information on the list.<\/p>\n

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Leave The Light On.<\/strong> A good way to deter felons from breaking into your home is to make sure your front porch light stays on all night, even when you\u2019re out of town. Not only does it signal that someone\u2019s home, it also makes it harder for vandals to hide among the shadows. If you\u2019re worried that you\u2019ll either forget to turn the light on at night or off in the morning, you can purchase an inexpensive timer that will automatically do that for you every day. Also, if you see any street lights around the association that are burnt out, please let the board know as soon as possible so that we can replace them for everyone\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n

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Lock Up.<\/strong> If you want to keep unwanted guests out, don\u2019t make your home inviting. Even when you\u2019re around, it\u2019s best to keep all gates, doors and garages locked at all times. It\u2019s also a good idea to keep your windows closed and locked when possible, especially if they\u2019re on the ground floor.<\/p>\n

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Put On Your Walking Shoes.<\/strong> Taking as stroll around the association isn\u2019t just good exercise. You can casually patrol the community for anything suspicious or usual, as well as swap notes about criminal activity in the area with other neighbors who are out and about. Also, when more residents regularly walk around the association, it can help scare off hooligans who are afraid of getting caught in the act.<\/p>\n

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Clean It Up.<\/strong> Picking up litter, removing graffiti and keeping trees, bushes and lawns trimmed not only makes the association look better, but also sends the message that our residents are diligent about keeping the neighborhood a respectable place to live. This can help discourage troublemakers from hanging around our community and encourage responsible and involved people to move to the association.<\/p>\n

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