Neighborhood alert is a digital tool aimed at improving community safety by making it easier for residents to communicate and coordinate. It is often used in residential neighborhoods, gated communities, HOAs, apartment complexes, and business campuses to improve communication and deter crime. These tools also provide real-time security alerts, vacation and visitor watch, and heightened access control for managed properties and gated communities.
To make an effective neighborhood watch, you must have a group of dedicated neighbors that are ready to spot suspicious activities and vehicles, and alert law enforcement if necessary. To help with this, it is important to get to know your neighbors and pay attention to their routines, so you can recognize regular visitors. You should also let your neighbors know when you are going to be out of town and who, if anyone will be watching your house or car. Leaving lights on and putting them on timers can make your home look occupied and deter criminal activity while you are away.
A great tool for neighborhood alert is Citizen, a free app that provides live videos and notifications of incidents, emergencies, and other events in your area. It’s popular for its urban-focused crime and safety alerts, which are sourced from local news agencies, law enforcement, and other third parties. This is helpful for city-dwellers and can serve as a good supplement to traditional community-based crime reporting methods. However, it’s important to remember that crime data can be messy and confusing, particularly when sourced from 3rd party information sources.