Semilong Neighbourhood Watch
Crime Prevention Tools
What Aids To Crime Prevention Are There?
To look at the aids of crime prevention, it is important to look at the type of crime, and then put yourself in the mind of the criminal. Then see what the criminal wouldn't want to see, hear or feel, so that they would be more tempted to go elsewhere.
Signs
Neighbourhood Watch signs are a proven way of deterring criminals. Both in the street and to place on your door or window. Contact your Neighbourhood Watch Street Co-ordinator for yours.
Lighting
Lights that switch off and on at random times during the dark hours. Outside flood lighting to light doorways and pathways. Someone trying to enter your property un-noticed would shudder at the thought of being lit up like a christmas tree.
Alarms
A serviced and properly working alarm system would deter many criminals as they want to go un-noticed.
Plants
Nice prickly thorny bushes and plants, especially up against ground floor windows and drain pipes, would deter many criminals. Though not too high to shield the criminal from view. Northamptonshire Police recommend hedges and plants no more than one metre high.
Locks
Good quality locks to British kitemark standards. Remember though, to lock doors, even at night when you are home.
Door Chains
Use door chains to allow the door to be opened just marginally.
CCTV
These are starting to gain popularity with a few residents across Semilong using CCTV cameras to watch over their properties and vehicles. Despite the urban myth that they are illegal, THEY ARE NOT, and in fact some police forces and the Home Office recommend them as a great crime fighting tool.
You could go one better and put the live video feed online so that the whole world could help in monitoring access to your property or vehicle.
See these cameras for example..
Curtains and Blinds
What a thief can't see, won't tempt him (or her). So expensive items, handbags, car keys, sat navs, computer equiptment as a few examples.., either put out of sight (especially if they are in the car) or at home use curtains and blinds to shield valuables from view.
Bag Alarms
Going supermarket shopping? It only takes 2 seconds to take a bag off of a trolley whilst your back is turned. Bag alarms are a great crime fighting tool that secure your bag to the trolley.
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