A neighborhood alert is a tool crafted to improve community safety by making it easier for residents to file reports about suspicious activity and security concerns. It is a popular resource for residential neighborhoods, gated communities, apartment complexes, HOAs, and managed properties.
Investing in a home and settling in a new community involves significant financial and personal commitments, so it’s worth taking time to do a thorough neighborhood check. A few simple steps, such as checking crime rates and observing the quantity of homes for sale and the condition of dilapidated fences, broken windows, and neglected yards can help you identify potential problem areas and avoid neighborhoods with safety issues.
In addition to researching the community through local media and law enforcement agencies, you can use neighborhood watch apps like SpotCrime, FamilyWatchDog, and NeighborhoodScout to gain valuable insight into an area’s safety. These apps will compare your selected location’s livability score against the national average and provide you with an overview of local crime statistics.
Aside from checking the neighborhood with an app, you can also speak to neighbors to gauge their comfort level with the area’s safety. You should also pay attention to any unusual occurrences, such as a neighbor leaving their interior lights on during the day or using timers so it appears their house is occupied. This can prevent criminals from targeting vacant or unoccupied houses for burglaries or other crimes.
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