Top Neighborhoods in the United States with High Crime Alerts In 2013
The neighborhood where you live can determine the amount of crime that goes on around you. Neighborhoods in the United States with the highest crime alerts include Detroit, Flint, Oakland, Memphis and St. Louis. These cities rated high in the number of violent crimes such as murder, robbery and rape. When you are looking for a new home, it is important that you consider the area where you live. Choose neighborhoods that have a lot of families and offer good schools, parks and youth activities. The old saying that location is important is still true today. There are safety tips you should follow no matter where you live. Crime can happen in any city and in any place across the world.
One of the best ways to reduce your chance of becoming a victim of a crime is to be aware of your surroundings when you leave your home. Never go out alone after dark. This is a popular time for crimes to occur. If you are alone, then you become an easy target. Consider taking self-defense classes to improve your safety knowledge. These classes will teach you how to take care of yourself if you are confronted with a criminal.
However, these classes do not recommend you fight back if your perpetrator has a gun or a knife. Your self-defense instructor will give you recommendations in these situations. The best part about taking a self-defense class is that you acquire a lot of knowledge. Most people don’t know how criminals choose their victims or why they were targeted. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter, you may be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Travel Safety
When you are traveling on vacation, you should use caution wherever you go. Most people tend to let their guard down while on vacation. Research your destination before you leave. Stay within the areas that are crowded. Avoid rundown neighborhoods or driving around when you’re lost. Carry a navigation system with you to prevent getting lost. Be cautious of private taxi drivers. A private taxi driver may not be a taxi service at all. There have been reports of these drivers robbing people.
Stay within large groups while you travel. There really is safety in numbers. Make sure you know the emergency number when you travel out of the country. Don’t look like a tourist by placing your camera around your neck. Don’t keep large amounts of cash with you. Instead, opt to use your credit cards. If you become a victim of a crime overseas, make sure you know where the United States Embassy is located. You are required to report crimes to the Embassy.
They will be able to give you advice on what to do next. You don’t have to be paranoid while you are on vacation. Just being aware of your surroundings and location will keep you safer. Keep all expensive jewelry at home. Most robberies overseas occur because they think if you have expensive jewelry, then you must have a large amount of cash.
Home Safety
One of the best ways to increase your level of home security is to purchase a complete security system. These systems are very affordable and easy to install. The best way to understand which equipment to choose is to seek the advice of a professional home security company. They will be able to recommend the right kind of security equipment that suits your home’s needs. There are security systems that can be monitored easily on your smartphone. The downside to this is the fact that you can’t watch your home all the time.
Hiring a home security company to monitor your home is a great idea. Monitoring your security system on your smartphone is helpful when you have older kids at home. They are especially helpful when you are monitoring an aging relative that you need to check on. Your professional home security store will be able to choose the best system for your needs. Teach your kids and teenagers how to use the security system. Explain how important it is for them to know how to operate the system and turn it on. Many teenagers don’t realize the dangers of staying home alone.
Talk to your kids about home security methods and safety practices. They should not tell all their friends that you are going on vacation. This information should never be talked about on social media sites. You never know if this information will get into the wrong hands. You might want to consider hiring a house sitter to stay in your home while you are away. The summer vacation season sees an increase in home burglaries. That’s because thieves know it is the time when many people area gone on vacation.
Neighborhood Watches
A great way to improve your home security is to know almost everyone in your community. Neighborhood crime watches can prevent crime from occurring before it even starts. Neighbors report to the police any suspicious vehicles or people in the neighborhood. Even if there are a few false alarms, this is still a great way to keep your home safe. Statistics show that burglars will watch a home for a few days before they decide to break in. That’s because they are trying to understand the patterns of the homeowner. If they realize you are on vacation, they simply take their time stealing your valuables.
It is important that you keep valuables such as jewelry and cash in a sturdy safe. Don’t put these items in a small safe that can easily be carried out your front door. Instead, consider a wall safe that can be hidden by a large picture or piece of furniture. Most burglars want to leave your home fast and won’t take the time to look behind everything in your home. A safe can also hold guns, small collections and other important items. Make sure your safe is also fireproof. Knowing everyone in your neighborhood will also give you the opportunity to watch other people’s houses.
Home Security Auditors
You can improve your level of security by hiring a professional home security auditor to walk through your home. These professionals have a lot of experience showing people how to protect their home. This is a small price to pay when you consider the benefits. It is hard for the average homeowner to look at their home through the eyes of an intruder. A home security auditor will walk through your home and look for common things an intruder will steal.
Electronics, guns and jewelry are the top things an intruder would love to find. The reason for this is simple. They can sell these items at pawn shops or on the black market for quick cash. A home security auditor knows this and will go through your home and make suggestions for changes. If someone breaks into your home and steals your valuables, you may lose your sense of security. People who are a victim of a crime sometimes need therapy after the incident. Plan ahead, and reduce your chances of becoming a victim of crime.
Surveillance Cameras
It is important that you take additional steps to improve your home security such as surveillance cameras, door and window sensors and high-quality locks. Most criminals who see a surveillance camera will move on to another target. They don’t want to risk the chance of getting caught when they can choose another home with no cameras. If you can’t afford a high-quality surveillance system, then consider installing fake cameras. These cost much less but look surprisingly real.
Some of these cameras are equipped with lights that make it impossible to tell that they are fake. If you decide to buy a complete surveillance system, you will be surprised at the reasonable costs. The best way to buy your surveillance equipment is after you consult with a home security professional. Indoor cameras can be equipped with motion detector sensors that detect movement. You can program them to disregard a small pet. This means, you can buy a system that doesn’t need a lot of storage space.
The cameras only record during movement so it needs little storage space. Most of these cameras are available in wireless form that is convenient to install. Consider buying a model that also sounds a loud audible alarm on both the inside and outside of your home. This way, your neighbors will also be alerted to an intrusion. This will make your intruder run out of your home fast. Most of these alarm systems can either be wired directly to a professional monitoring company or your computer.
You can choose to be contacted through email, texts or phone calls. It is important that you learn how to operate these sophisticated systems by a professional. The home security system you choose will only work as well as you program it. Modern technology makes some of these security systems difficult to learn. That is why you need professional installation and instruction when purchasing a new home security system.