| Considering all the incidents of violent crime you hear about on the news every day, you should be able to feel safe inside your own home. There’s no question Gresham isn’t a safe place to live. However, there are things everyone can do to reduce their chances of being a victim. The number one tip to staying safe wherever you are is to be aware of your surroundings. Traveling to unfamiliar places in the daylight and always walking or jogging with someone else reduces your likelihood of being victimized. If you are cognizant of what is going on around you, chances are, you’ll be able to avoid danger in most instances. It’s not just your person you need to be concerned about. Burglars are breaking into houses and apartments, taking property that is left outside and going through cars to search for valuable items they can steal. Being a victim of a burglary can be very distressing. Many people who are victimized don’t feel safe for quite a while, even if they put extra security measures in place after the break-in. Recovering from an event like this takes some time so it’s essential for anyone who has never been burglarized to do everything they can to prevent it from happening to them. Security Systems The most effective step you can take to secure your house or apartment is to install a security system. Doing this might deter burglars who think they could get caught if they try to break in and ensure that police are alerted quickly if someone actually does break into your home. In addition to acting as a deterrent and providing a quick notification to authorities in case of a problem, a security system with a camera can allow you to watch what’s going on at your home when you aren’t there. User-friendly apps let security system customers stream the footage from their security cameras from any device. Guard Dogs If you are really concerned about your home security, you might consider getting a dog. A large dog is a great deterrent. Few burglars will risk entering a house with a dog because they don’t want to test whether or not the dog is friendly. In many cases, the nicest dog in the neighborhood will attack a stranger trying to climb through a window. Be sure to invest time in your dog so they will be happy to defend you and your house. Take the dog for daily walks, play with him and feed him well. Well taken care of dogs are the most loyal and will do anything to protect the people they love. Motion Sensors Motion sensors shine a light on a specific area if someone or something is moving after dark. These lights are otherwise turned off so the instant illumination might scare a potential thief away. Burglars don’t want people to see them in the act. This only gives opportunities for people to contact the police and testify against them in court. Since none of that is in a burglar’s plan when they head out to work at night, they avoid houses with these kind of lighting systems. Fortunately, you won’t have to spend a fortune to get motion sensors. Although there are some expensive options, you can get a single sensor light for about $20. Change Your Locks By now, you should already have a solid door with at least one deadbolt lock at every ground floor entrance. Anything less than this makes your home an easy target for burglars and puts your family at risk. Most burglars work quickly but if one is in your home when you return or if one of your children is home from school when your home is broken into, someone in your family could be injured. To avoid this, secure your doors and make sure the locks on your windows work properly. If necessary, put a piece of wood in your window to make it even more difficult for someone to get into your home. This is particularly important if you live in a ground floor apartment. Be a Good Neighbor Homes are most vulnerable during the day when most people are at work or school. If you are a stay-at-home parent or retiree, you can be a valuable asset to your community by simply paying attention. By getting to know your neighbors and allowing them to get to know you and your family, every home will be safer. Areas where no one wants to get involved are more likely to suffer from frequent burglaries and car break ins because the police aren’t able to solve the crimes. On the other hand, if you are aware and know when a car you’ve never seen before has circled the block slowly three times or someone suspicious is creeping around your neighbor’s backyard, you can contact authorities and let them ask the appropriate questions. Everyone has a right to feel safe — regardless of where they live. Although Gresham has a higher crime rate than other cities in Oregon, there are several things you can do to avoid being a victim of a violent or property crime. Awareness of your location and what’s going on around you is key but doing other things, like installing a monitored security system, buying a guard dog and being a good neighbor are great ways to make you more comfortable in your own home and may even result in making a few new friends. |
