| The city of Gastonia, North Carolina has a population of approximately 71,740 and is the thirteenth largest city in the state. Residents of Gaston can easily get to nearby Charlotte for work or shopping. The average household or family income of its residents is $36, 881 to $44,500. 20.9% of the population are below the poverty line. The city has suffered from shutdowns and job losses because of the recession and companies moving production to other countries. In 2010 the unemployment rate was at 7.9%. Things To Do, Places To See There are several attractions for residents and visitors to enjoy. They include the Schiele Museum of Natural History, a planetarium, The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, Crowders State Park, and the United States National Whitewater Center on the nearby Catawba River. Charlotte and all of its attractions are a short drive away. Gastonia has shopping malls and other shopping opportunities. Gastonia Crime Rates Gastonia crime rates are higher than in North Carolina as a whole. Residents have a 1 in 137 chance of being the victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 19 chance of being the victim of a property crime. In all of North Carolina, it is 1 in 288 for violent crime and 1 in 36 for property crimes. There are 51.37 property crimes per 1,000 residents. These higher than average crime statistics mean that residents should take security measures seriously. But, what can families living below the poverty line afford to do? The relatively low average income for families limits what they can afford to pay for security systems. The Safest, Popular Neighborhoods There are neighborhoods mostly in the southern part and eastern part of Gastonia that have lower crime rates. The Springwood areaRobinson Road and Union RoadThe south Gastonia areaElmores Crossroads neighborhood There are many other neighborhoods available to live in that have reasonably low crime rates and safe living conditions. Residents can go online and key in their home address to get the crime statistics near them. They can also check in with the nearest police station. Sometimes people can choose where to purchase a home and sometimes they already own or rent a home and can not move. Once a person knows how safe their neighborhood is, they can take steps to be more secure. Low-Cost Security Measures There are a number of practical measures that increase home security without a large cash investment. Knowing one’s neighbors and looking out for each other is a big plus when it comes to neighborhood safety. There are other low-cost measures to take care of. Clean up the front, side, and back yards so there is a clear view from the street or neighbor’s homes. Trim trees and shrubs back so they do not provide hiding places. Get rid of all trash and unused items.Install front and back motion activated lights that can light up the whole property at night.Make sure all the windows have screens and can be secured with latches on the inside and all the doors lock securely. If door locks are installed with short screws, replace the screws with long ones. This makes it harder to force the door open. Lower windows can be secured with bars to keep intruders out.Consider adopting a dog from the local animal shelter or a free dog ad in the newspaper. It does not need to be a vicious dog, just one that barks to scare off intruders. A dog can be very loyal and a good friend. Post beware of dog signs in the front yard and on the doors.Do not post online when the family is going away and cancel papers and mail delivery while the family will be gone.Some people feel safer if they purchase and learn to safely use a gun for protection. This is not for everyone, but it is an option. Guns come with a lot of responsibility and some risks of their own. Guns need to be stored safely so children can not get them. The owner needs to take classes on how to use a gun and do target practice. Security Systems Come In Many Price Levels Homeowners or renters can purchase security cameras and alarms for as little as $50.00 each or as much as hundreds of dollars plus monitoring costs. If the budget is low, the homeowner can purchase one security camera at a time and build up to the level of security they want. There are security cameras that look like doorbells, smoke detectors, coat hooks, or other objects. They can be attached to walls or other objects with Velcro or two-sided tape and moved around as needed. This type of security camera records on a motion activated system to save on battery use. The homeowner can download the photos to a computer, smartphone, or television to view what activity happened. If there was a break in the recordings can help police catch the criminals. There are security packages that the homeowner can purchase at places like Wallmart or electronics stores. The homeowner installs the system themselves and can monitor the security footage in real time via a smartphone or computer. These systems can include window and door sensors, security cameras, alarms, and control panels. Remember, a security system is only as good as the equipment and the correct installation and operation of the system. Some security companies have quite reasonable starter packages with off-site monitoring at a monthly fee. Calling a security company for a free quote can be a start to better home security. For more information on security systems go to the website. |
