Knowledge is Power – Staying Connected

How do you know about criminal activity in your neighborhood or area? Staying connected to neighbors and local authorities is a good way to get information about what is going on.  There are also sites that you can use to search for crime in your zip code.

Knowledge is Power

• One way to stay on top of the criminal activity nearby is to use a website that tracks it.  CrimeReports.com allows you to search by zip code.  It also lets you filter by recency of the events, date and time, type of incident, etc.
• For more real-time information, there are police scanner apps like Scanner Radio that allow you to listen to the dispatch calls for agencies near you.
• Many dispatching agencies announce activity via social media. While this isn’t as real-time as the scanner and is not all inclusive, it is a credible source of information. Since the agency itself is the one reporting, there are not distortions from second or third hand re-tellings of situations. Follow the Houston Police Department on twitter @HoustonPolice.
• News alerts are another way to get notified about criminal activity in your city. Add the app for the local news stations and/or newspaper to your phone and set the notifications so you receive alerts when a breaking story comes in.  This will allow you to click the alert to read the full story.
• Set the notifications on your phone to “on” for AMBER alerts and emergency alerts. Click on Settings, Notifications and then toggle both options on.

Staying Connected

In some cases, friends and neighbors are the best source of information for nearby activities. This could be through a formal or informal channel of communication.

• After Hurricane Harvey in Houston, many people in impacted neighborhoods relied on social media, group texts and other communication apps to stay in touch. These networks of communication remain in place for many to share information and concerns with neighbors. Residents may post to the neighborhood Facebook or NextDoor site about unwanted solicitors, stolen bicycles, car break-ins or other activity that would be useful to their neighbors.
• If your neighborhood has a security patrol, the officers will often report incidents of concern to the HOA for distribution to the community. Especially when there have been a series of similar events in the area, they will provide information as well as tips for protecting your home and family.
• Facebook can also serve as a resource for a broader geographic area. Pages for people who live in a certain area (West University, Katy, Sugar Land, Memorial, The Heights, etc.) will have posts from people who experienced crime while shopping in the area, at a local bank or when their car was parked somewhere. While sometimes these reports may be second or third hand, they are still helpful in making sure you use extra caution when you are away from home.
• The Neighbors app was created by Ring. But you don’t have to have a Ring doorbell or camera system to use it. People post on the app videos from their camera systems of suspicious activities, package thieves and other worrisome activities. Set up alerts so that you get notified when people post about events near you. Neighbors informing neighbors is a great way to stay connected.

We Can Help

Knowing about crime in your area can help you to know what to watch out for and be alert to your surroundings.  Cultris Security has helped families and businesses feel more secure in their homes or offices for over 14 years.  Call us today at 281-506-8466 or visit us online for a specially designed security plan to meet your needs.  

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay