YOUR neighbours are the first people to see if something is wrong at your home – so get them onto your team.
If we stand together and look after each other, we can make our suburbs ‘no-go zones’ for criminals.
One of the first things you should do when you move into a new suburb, is make an effort of meeting the people who live next door as soon as possible and share contact details with them.
They could also provide useful advice on existing community safety organisations in the area.
While not all communities have the energy or appetite to set up a formal neighbourhood watch initiatives, this does not mean that there was nothing residents could do in terms of organising themselves.
‘If you don’t have a community watch, set up regular meetings with the local police to workshop ideas on how you could assist them in keeping the area safe,’ says security specialist and ADT manager, Ivan Govender.
‘It could be as simple as just sharing tips and advice and having a reliable list of contact details for each other.
‘The point is, we all have a part to play and we simply can no longer be idle bystanders when it comes to our own safety.
‘If you live in an area where a neighbourhood or community watches have already been set up, then become involved as a matter of urgency,’ he says.
The involvement could take many forms – from becoming a patroller to offering monetary or logistical admin support.
* Know who lives in your area
* Engage with your community. This often leads to combined security implementation and these have a far greater impact on an area than individual efforts.
* Agree to keep an eye on each others’ homes, children, vehicles and pets
* Introduce your children to your neighbours – make sure they are all familiar with your children’s movements, and vice-versa
* Write the contact details of one or two close neighbours down, and keep them in plain sight near the phone. They’re closer and will get to your home before rescue personnel can.
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