Mondays Matter: Week 16

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Over 3.4 million burglaries occur annually.

60% or more of residential burglaries occur during daylight hours.

Approximately 32% of all burglaries are by unlawful entry with no force: the robbers enter through an open door or window.

July has the greatest number of burglaries; February, the least.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Get to know your neighbors.

2. Organize a community watch program to protect your neighborhood. Get information from your local law enforcement agency.

3. Post a Neighborhood Watch sign in a visible window of your home and encourage neighbors to do the same.

4. Ask neighbors to be observant and report suspicious or unusual activities.

5. Let your neighbors know when you'll be out of town and leave a contact number where you can be reached.

6. Make your home safer by installing an alarm system, placing rods in the frames of sliding doors and windows, leaving outdoor lights (CFLs) on at night, setting indoor lamps with timers, and adopting a dog.

My husband jokingly calls me the neighborhood watch program. When we lived in the city, I kept a watchful eye out our front window. Mostly because I was home alone with 2 young children and there had been some burglaries in our neighborhood. Now that we live in a small town and on a dead end street I still keep a watchful eye out. Some may call it being nosy, but I am familiar with the vehicles that come down our dead end street. When I see a strange van or car come down the street, I take notice and watch where they are going. Sometimes they turn around and leave and then I make a mental note of that vehicle in case I see it again down our way. I live in an area that people frequently are not home during the day, and I want to help keep our little neighborhood safe. I would want my neighbors to do the same for me. I know all my neighbors very well and when we go on vacation we let them know, so they can keep watch over our home. A safe neighborhood is created when the people who live in the community look out for one another and their property. Keeping a watchful eye, noting unusual activities and vehicles, and talking with neighbors help create a crime free and safe community to live, work, and play.