Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Crime is always an unfortunate fact of any community. Still there are ways for communities to pull together in working toward keeping their homes, and neighborhood streets as safe as possible. As police and law enforcement do their jobs to protect citizens, communities can help by organizing neighborhood watches, being sure to stay alert and watch for any suspicious situations in their area.

Recently a rash of motor vehicle break-ins have taken place in neighboring Edwardsburg as well as numerous home invasions.

It is an unfortunate trend, one that has been seen in our own city and surrounding areas.
Though panicking is never the route to take – awareness is key.

In the case of one incident, the victim said he felt concerned not enough people were being informed by police about incidents going on in their neighborhood, leaving citizens vulnerable to threats.

Newspapers try to achieve that goal as well, printing police blotters and working hard to communicate with police to provide as much information to the public as possible that might help them in being as safe as possible.

Individuals can do their part and report any suspicious situations to police immediately, communicate with neighbors and law enforcement if there are problems in their neighborhood and above all educate children on the necessary safety precautions.

For those who don’t know just what to tell their kids, contact local law enforcement and ask questions but make sure to sit down and educate them about the dangers of strangers and bad influences.

There are other things property owners can do to ensure the utmost safety of residents or employees.

Be sure all locks are secure and keep areas such as parking lots and walkways well lit.
As the weather warms, more of us will be outdoors with an ability to keep an eye on the safety of our neighborhoods.

It’s a job that police can’t do on their own and in the long run, a job that could keep many feeling a little safer at night.