February is typically a high crime month in Albuquerque*. It’s cold, there are new post-Christmas toys, and we have less communication with our neighbors. One of the topics I’m passionate about is building community. I truly believe that less crime exists in strong communities and I’m not alone in that belief.

The Albuquerque Police Department includes these as part of their “home security check list”

• Don’t hide your spare keys, give them to a trusted neighbor.
• Ask a neighbor to watch over your home and pick up deliveries while you are away.

 Jane Jacobs of The Death and Life of Great American Cities (one of my favorite college books) states this:

“there must be eyes upon the street, eyes belonging to those we might call the natural proprietors of the street. The buildings on a street equipped to handle strangers and to insure the safety of both residents and strangers, must be oriented to the street.”

The more relationships you build in your neighborhood the more everyone is looking out for each other. It’s as easy as keeping your eyes open when you walk the dogs, bring meals to sick neighbors and walk each other’s kids to school. These small steps make a huge difference in reducing crime. So go introduce yourself to your neighbors, why not start tomorrow by delivering a Valentine! {wink} Oh and of course don’t forget to lock your doors on the way out.  

*Warmer months like July and August are also high crime months due to kids out of school and temperatures. 

Do you have tips for reducing crime? I’d love to hear them. Share in the comments below or over on my Facebook page for all to see. Let’s tackle this together.