There are a few ways you can help increase safety within your community. Some of these things residents can do themselves while others will require the approval of the HOA board.
One of the first things you may want to do is ask if a police officer would be willing to come to your HOA. They could do a safety audit to see what things should be changed to increase safety. A police officer may even be willing to talk at a meeting to provide some expert security tips that your residents can follow.
In addition to having a police officer in to discuss safety tips with your residents, you can draft and send out an informational flyer (online or printed). A few security tips worth adding to the flyer include:
- When going on a trip, make sure to put the mail on hold with the USPS or ask someone else to pick it up periodically so that it doesn’t stack up.
- Talk with a neighbor to see if someone would be willing to park in the driveway.
- Use a light timer to make it look like someone is there when no one is home.
- If residents see something suspicious in the neighborhood, say something, don’t just shrug it off.
- Get to know the other residents in the community.
- Use motion lights on garages or other outdoor areas (that aren’t intruding on neighbors’ spaces).
- Don’t let hedges get too high as they can provide more hiding spots for burglars.
The HOA board should also take added steps to increase security within the neighborhood. All of the streets should be well lit (burnt bulbs should be replaced immediately). Any high bushes should be trimmed back as well.
The HOA board might also want to consider hiring a team of security officers to keep an eye on the community. You can even start a neighborhood watch to keep community members informed and safe.
If you’d like additional tips to help your community run smoothly or you need help managing your HOA, please reach out to us at PMI: .
