Norwood Block Club

Talk to Strangers: Security Through Friendliness

Apr 07, 2005

Many people spend a lot of time and money on products to enhance the security of their home and property. While such products are often a good idea, there's another method that is a lot cheaper and has some great fringe benefits: it is simply being friendly.

If you take the time and effort to establish a rapport with your neighbors, it will go a long way toward making your home and the area surrounding it safer and more secure.

Talk to your neighbors. Get to know them by name, by what cars they drive. Be aware of when they normally come and go. Exchange phone numbers with them. If you see something suspicious going on near their home, call them and make sure they're okay. As you get to know your neighbors more, you'll be more confident about who is suspicious and who is not. You'll be more sure of when to call the police and when not to.

If you make a habit of saying "hi" to people you haven't met yet, you will learn who should be here, and you may scare off those who shouldn't. Criminals don't want to be noticed. The sort of neighborhood where everyone ignores everyone else is a perfect place for them to strike. Let's make sure this is not that kind of neighborhood.

And, by the way, we can do all of this in the name of security, but the fringe benefits will be a friendlier, happier, closer community, in short, a better place to live.