COMMUNITY AT LARGE

By Derrek Cummings – Courtesy
Property safety is at the forefront of every homeowner’s mind, which is why it can be frightening to learn about break-ins and burglaries in your neighborhood. A higher crime rate can also affect the feeling of security you deserve in your home and can affect your property value. A high crime rate can even make you vulnerable to a premise liability claim in some cases if you don’t take action.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania, like many parts of the country, has experienced several crime waves, especially during times of economic crisis. If your community has inadequate security and you’re concerned, there are eight key things you can do to keep you and your neighbors safe:

1. Establish a community watch.

One of the best ways to improve the neighborhood is to get the entire community involved. Set up a neighborhood watch by contacting your neighbors and asking them to join. Your community watch group can do several things:

Observe and report any suspicious behavior.
Work with police.
Put up signs to let would-be criminals know the community is being proactive.
Inform others in the community about criminal activity so all residents are prepared.
You can set up a community watch group by contacting your local police authority. Most police departments can offer advice about setting up these types of groups.

2. Improve lighting.

Poor lighting can hide all kinds of suspicious activity. If your street lights are inadequate, contact your homeowner’s association or local government for safer lighting. Encourage local businesses and residents to set up motion-activated outdoor lights as well.

3. Clean up.

Host a community clean-up event to get rid of graffiti, overgrown trees, and litter. Not only will it encourage community spirit, but it will also help you get rid of overgrown bushes and trees, which is important since they can hide criminal activity.

4. Take care of your home and neighborhood homes.

Your home will be less of a target if the doors and windows are in good working order and lock properly. You might even want to install security measures such as a security alarm or other deterrents. Contact your homeowners’ insurance provider first — you may be able to get an insurance discount by implementing certain safety measures. If there are neighbors who cannot afford to upgrade their homes, consider working with your community watch group to assist them.

5. Address empty buildings.

Empty buildings can often attract criminal activity, which can then spill out into surrounding areas. Contact the building owners or local government with your concerns.

6. Hire a security service.

A private security service can do what local police often can’t: they can patrol your neighborhood more frequently and respond quickly to any suspicious activity, enhancing your property safety. If your community can fundraise together, you may be able to secure a reliable security service.

7. Make sure your neighbors know the basics of staying safe.

If your neighbors work long hours, for example, make sure they use timers to switch the lights on and off, so it appears that someone is home. Make sure you and your neighbors don’t keep extra sets of keys under doormats or anywhere where a burglar can find them. You can also consider hosting a local community meeting to discuss smart safety measures, or hand out fliers to help your neighbors understand how to keep their homes safer.

8. Consider renting out parking space in your driveway.

Many communities have people who work away from home. This means most driveways and streets are empty of cars during the day and are relatively free of pedestrian traffic, which makes them more of a target for burglars. Renting out your driveway during the day will increase traffic in front of your home to scare off burglars and can make it appear that someone is home. As an added bonus, you may be able to charge money. Just make sure you have a legal agreement reviewed by an attorney to avoid any premise liability claims from the driver.

Like many people, you may be concerned about rising crime rates. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep yourself and your community safe. If you’re attacked or targeted, you may have a premises liability claim against the perpetrator and other liable parties. Your local attorney can help guide you through the legal process.