As Americans, we talk a lot about crime rates and neighborhood safety.

The good news is that–as a whole–crime rates around the country have dropped significantly since the 1990s. Even the most crime-ridden cities have seen a marked decrease in the number of violent crimes.

While these statistics sound good, you might still be left wondering, “How safe is my neighborhood?” How can you be sure that the area you’re moving to is safe for you and your family?

In this post, we’ll reveal how to tell if a neighborhood is safe–and what residents can do to make it even safer.

1. Stay Informed

Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, it never hurts to stay on top of what’s happening in the neighborhood.

Spotcrime.com is a useful site that pinpoints specific crimes in your community. You should also check with the National Sex Offender Public Registry to see if there are any offenders living in your neighborhood.

You might also check with the local police department or community center to see if they’ve noticed any trends in neighborhood crime. Have there been any recent reports of car theft, burglaries, or vandalism?

The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be.

2. Install Security Features

If you rent out properties to tenants, there are numerous things you can do to make them safer.

• Encourage tenants to keep their doors and windows locked.
• Install a home security system in every unit.
• Install motion sensor lights around the property.
• Keep trees and bushes neatly trimmed and maintained.
• Immediately repair any faulty or damaged doors and windows.

By keeping your properties in prime condition and adding a few security features, you can do a lot to keep your tenant safe.

3. Start a Neighborhood Watch

Want an efficient and inexpensive way to make your neighborhood safer? Start a neighborhood watch!

Host a meeting to gauge community interest, including local law enforcement. In addition to putting up signs around the community, you might also suggest:

• Assigning “window watchers” around the neighborhood.
• Translating crime and drug prevention materials into locally spoken languages.
• Sponsoring “clean up” days for abandoned or overgrown lots.

By getting everyone in the community involved, you can work together to make the neighborhood a safer place.

4. Replace the Locks

A final way to improve the safety of your residence or business is to regularly change the locks.

Check the landlord-tenant laws in your state to see what’s required when new tenants move in. If the deadbolt or door lock experienced any damage before they moved in, you’re responsible for replacing the lock.

Although you may not be thrilled at the added expense, it’s in everyone’s best interests. A professional locksmith can advise you on your best options for changing or rekeying locks on your property.

How Safe Is My Neighborhood?

We all want to feel safe and secure in our homes.

Rather than sitting there and asking, “How safe is my neighborhood?”, take these steps to make it safer for everyone.

Our blog is filled with more helpful tips for improving the safety of your home, business, or neighborhood.

If you need the services of a professional locksmith, don’t hesitate to contact us today.