When looking at a neighborhood, it’s important to look beyond just the crime rates and consider how safe it feels. Parents will be more likely to let their kids play outside if they feel the area is safe. Take a walk around the neighborhood in the morning and evening to get a sense of how people interact. Watch whether the streets are well-lit and how the locals maintain their homes, yards and cars. Are there local parks and trails nearby? Are there community programs like farmers markets or block parties that bring neighbors together? These can be signs of a close-knit, safe community.
There are also many online resources available to assess a neighborhood’s safety. These include websites such as CrimeMapping and CityProtect that display police reports on a map. They allow users to filter the crime data based on incident type, date range and time of day. They can also provide individualized alerts for specific crimes. There are also mobile apps such as WeAlert that offer similar functionality to help homeowners stay informed of potential safety risks.
Another tool is Family Watchdog, which allows you to enter an address and receive an alert if a convicted sex offender moves into the area. The website also offers home safety tips, facts about sex offenders and other helpful information. In addition, RING’s community app allows residents to connect and share information about their neighborhoods in real-time. Residents can post and share crime an safety alerts and communicate with their neighbors directly in a safe and private manner.
About the Author
