For the security conscience amongst you, protecting your property and family is a number one priority. But security doesn’t stop and start at the front door, and there are ways you can help improve the safety of your whole neighbourhood.

Here are some neighbourhood crime prevention tips to consider:

Get to know your neighbours

If you want to make your neighbourhood safer, start by introducing yourself to the people in your street and getting to know them. Find out who is at home during the day, who has children and who spends a lot of time away from their property. All this information will help you understand the rhythm of your neighbourhood and make it easier to spot any suspicious activity.

Light it up

The more lights turned on after dark, the better. If there are streetlights, make sure these are always working properly, and contact the council if there are any problems.

Every home in your area can play a part in ensuring there’s little darkness for opportunists to exploit. Improve neighbourhood security by encouraging others to leave on their porch lights at night, or even invest in motion-activated security lights for added peace of mind.

Share your movements

If you’re planning to go on holiday or be away from home, let your neighbours know so they can keep an eye on your property – and you can do the same for them. This kind of community spirit benefits everyone and boosts your security.

Form a Neighbourhood Watch group

If there’s already a Neighbourhood Watch programme in your area, join it. And if there’s not, why not set one up for yourself? This is a great way to get everyone thinking about security, and the more people looking out for your property and family, the better.

Visit www.ourwatch.org.uk to search for a programme in your area, or find out how to create your own.

There’s no substitute for a monitored security system

The more homes in your neighbourhood that have monitored security systems installed, the safer you’ll all feel and the greater the deterrent for potential intruders.

When asked, 93% of burglars said they’d be put off by an ADT monitored intruder alarm that’s watched and responded to 24/7/365*. That’s security that every homeowner in your neighbourhood could benefit from.