Clive Humphrey, managing director of ADT central region said all residents should become involved in their communities by getting to know their neighbourhoods and their neighbours.
“Getting to know your neighbours is a vital defence mechanism in community security,” he said. “Your neighbours are the closest proximity to you when you are at home and are the most likely to be the first to identify a possible problem.”
Humphrey said by knowing your neighbours’ daily routines and those of the domestic staff as well as the surroundings of the neighbourhood, it was easier to notice suspicious people, vehicles and activity.
“We have seen successful crime prevention in suburbs where residents get actively involved in their communities. This leads to combined security implementation which has a greater impact on an area than individual efforts do,” he said.
Humphrey suggested that neighbours start sharing security tips and reporting suspicious individuals or vehicles in their area.
“It is also very important to introduce your children to your neighbours,” he said.
Humphrey suggested that neighbours should agree to keep an eye on each other’s children when they are playing in the garden. He also advised that residents should teach their children that if they were ever home alone and felt unsafe they could go over to one of the neighbours and wait there until you could be contacted or you came home.
Humphrey stressed the importance of writing the contact details of at least one or two of your neighbours on your list of emergency services numbers.
“By working together as each other’s eyes and ears, you, your neighbours, the police and security providers can make your suburb a no-go zone for criminals,” he said.
