How Your Board Can Help Prevent Crime in Your Association
January 10, 2023 | By: RealManage
Crime prevention is generally a major priority for homeowners and the community’s association. Although a police department or private security company may patrol the area, it is up to the HOA board to keep local residents informed about security rules and procedures to help curtail crime in the neighborhood.
Theft is a major crime and many upscale neighborhoods are prime targets. Your HOA can put out an email notice to homeowners at any time regarding any burglaries or other crimes near the neighborhood to keep residents informed. Residents should be made aware of any potential problems.
The HOA board can hold a special meeting for residents with a presentation from local law enforcement officials who explain how the community can work with them. They are always happy to give information on crime prevention. The local fire department and hospital can also be part of a presentation to explain their emergency services.
Create a Neighborhood Watch Group
Your HOA board can put out a request for volunteers in the community to help in several ways with a neighborhood watch group. Parents who are at home when children leave and return from school in the school district’s buses or public transportation should be at the bus stops. They take their children to the bus stops and meet them on their return while they keep a careful watch for strangers.
Many people are now able to work from home, and they can keep an eye on their neighbor’s unoccupied house. They can report suspicious activities to local authorities, including a neighborhood security patrol.
A person can ask a neighbor who is usually home to pick up a package delivered to the door of an unoccupied house and keep it until the homeowner returns. This is people helping their neighbors in the community.
Many homeowner associations have their own neighborhood parks. The board is usually responsible for hiring park managers who should also be on the lookout for suspicious activities.
The board can schedule neighborhood watch meetings when convenient. This gives people in the group the opportunity to exchange information.
Special Security for Residents who Travel
A homeowner’s association can employ a private security patrol that watches the homes of residents who travel for business or vacation. Or, local law enforcement can be asked to keep an eye on empty homes.
The HOA board should have a form available for people to fill out with their dates of travel and phone numbers where they can be reached in an emergency. Travelers can also have their mail delivered to the local post office until their return.
People who leave their home empty can have a light attached to a timer that turns it on at dusk. They can also have a remotely controlled home security system accessed through their smartphones that alerts them to possible intruders while they are away. The homeowners can contact the neighborhood security patrol or the local police, if necessary.
Good Lighting is a Necessity
Good street and building lighting goes a long way in preventing crime. The lighting is also important to prevent falls and injuries. The HOA should have appropriate lighting on all residential streets. Public areas and buildings that belong to the association should also have good lighting and even security cameras.
In addition, the HOA rules can require homeowners to have outdoor lights for garages, pathways, and doors. These regulations should be enforced.
Homeowners can be encouraged to install special motion-sensor lights, possibly security cameras and even alarm systems. Many homeowners have special digital locks on doors, including garage doors, connected with programs that allow people inside a home to use their smartphone or other devices to see who is outside.
Keep Grounds in Good Condition
Clean streets and public grounds, well maintained fences and walls, show that people within the neighborhoods care about their community. This includes the network of pathways and trails found in many residential planned developments. The HOA board is generally responsible for maintaining these areas along with the safety and security of the community.
Let’s talk about your community.
Whether you’re exploring a change or just curious how we work, we’re here to help.
