Neighborhood safety is a team effort, but it starts with you.

Know your neighbors. Know  whether they work during the day, whether they have children (and, if so, what they look like), and what their needs are. Knowing these things helps you be aware of who is in your neighborhood and what could be suspicious.

Keep up your yard, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. A neighborhood with mowed lawns, flowers, and freshly painted homes looks like it’s cared for, and this alone can help deter crime. A well-kept yard also provides fewer places for suspicious persons to take cover.

Be extra cautious when you go out of town. Talk to your neighbors and arrange for someone to mow your lawn,  or pick up your mail and            newspapers. Use timers on lights.

Close your windows and blinds at night. Leaving your blinds open and lights on at night provides a free look into your house, its layout, and the habits of its occupants. And leaving windows open at night or when you’re gone is an invitation for an uninvited guest to come on in.

Improve the lighting on your street. Streetlamps are not the only way to do this. Ask that each household turn on their porch lights in the evenings and install motion-sensor lights in the backs or sides of the house so potential intruders don’t have the darkness to hide in.

Encourage outdoor activity. Go on walks with your neighbor, work in your yard, and let your kids play with the neighbors down the street. Organizing a neighborhood cookout can encourage people to feel more comfortable spending time out in the neighborhood as well.

If you See Something, Say Something. Know your local police. Emergency Call 911,

Huntington Beach Non-Emergency 714.960.8811

Fountain Valley Non-Emergency 714.593.4485

Westminster Non-Emergency  714.898.3315

Costa Mesa Non-Emergency 714.754.5252

Install a security system. In the end, one of the best ways to improve safety in your neighborhood is to get a home security system and use it properly.                                                                                                                             Improving neighborhood safety is a team effort, but it needs to start with someone and that someone should be you. As you get to know your neighbors, discuss your concerns, and apply some of the ideas above, you’ll find that your neighborhood becomes not only a safer place to be, but a more enjoyable one.                                                                                     Sources: Safewise.com, Micah Stovall, The Stovall Team