With today’s economy the way it is, many people are doing things that they would not normally do in better times.
They take drugs which impair their judgment or drink alcohol to excess. They feel desperate and so resort to stealing from others they perceive as being better off than they are. Or they unleash their anger and frustrations against those they feel have used them or done them wrong. And it being the holidays is no deterrent to thefts and vandalism either! It seems that both of those crimes are on the rise in urban America.
Having a home security system looks more and more like a smart thing to invest in. Once upon a time, you could have a sign for a service such as ADT in your front yard and that would be deterrent enough for the average thief, but it’s no longer good enough. You have to have the real thing now in order to keep them out of your home.
Today’s security systems come with such features as passworded touchpads, links to local police and fire departments and other safety features. My neighbor has the passworded touchpad and had trouble remembering her password. She has had the sheriff’s office down here several times when it was first installed because she forgot the password and the alarm went off before she remembered it.
Having a Neighborhood Watch group can be a great deterrent to criminal activity. Watching out for each other is always a good practice. Be aware of what’s going on around you. Make note of strange cars and strangers in your neighborhood.Watch for activity in empty houses or apartments – call the police if you believe they do not belong there.
Of course my in-home security system involves my dogs. There is no way someone can come in this house without them raising an alarm. The problem is that if we’re not here, there’s no one to hear it, so it’s far from being as effective as a security system.
Take precautions when shopping, too. Set your car alarm and have your keys ready as you approach your car so that you can get in quickly. Many keyless entry remotes have a panic button which will set your car horn honking. Don’t hesitate to press it if you feel threatened. People let their anger out over silly things like parking places and getting a sale item, so don’t set yourself up to be a victim. Again, be aware of your surroundings. If you believe you are being followed, return to the store and ask for a security guard to accompany you to your car.
What other things can you think of to keep yourself and your property safe in these troubled times? Please share your tips with us here!
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Unfortunately I live in a country that if it does not have the highest crime rate in the world it will be very high up on that list. Economics does seem to play a role in this whole matter of crime but some of these guys are stealing, maiming, murdering and whatever else just for the heck of it. Over here crime seems to be becoming an acceptable way of life.
It is actually very sad. The innocent are forced to live behind locked doors, safety gates, burglar bars, security systems and barbed wire. The criminals are free to roam the streets. Heck, recent happenings have actually proven that some of these criminals have found their way into the Police Services and even the Parliament.
What is happening to the world?
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@Lyndi — I think one of the main reasons why crime rates soar is because our young people have too much time on their hands, have been brought up to feel like the world owes them a living and have not had the work ethic values taught to them that our grandparents and parents learned. While I don’t advocate re- instituting sweat shops, I do think that young people need to be given responsibilities at an early age and encouraged to contribute to the household in some fashion. Reducing the time spent in front of the television and playing video games is also needed. Too many parents use these as tools to keep kids out of trouble when in fact they teach kids many of the wrong values.
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