How to stop and prevent vandalism and crime?
Vandalism is a crime that is committed without a specific reason. It is often committed by a small group of people and is usually gang related. It’s a problem that can reoccur, may be costly to fix and might require you to file an insurance claim and as a result pay higher annual premiums.
Here are some way to protect your property against vandalism:
• Install Lights: Keep your property lit at night with some lights that will turn on automatically at dusk and your off at dawn. Also install some lights with motion detection. This type of lights will turn on when movement is detected and stay on for a few minutes.
• Property access: keep all gates and entrances to your property locked at night. Any persons without a key have no business in your property at night.
• Install surveillance cameras: No criminals wants to be caught by camera. Put your cameras at a visible location and inform the presence of your cameras with plenty of signs. In many cases “dummy” or display non operating cameras with the addition of signage are enough to keep the bad guys out.
• Trim trees: Limbs can provide means of getting on roofs or second stories, or of getting over a wall or fence. Try to eliminate easy access to people you want to keep out.
• Neighborhood watch: Inform your tenants neighbors and other landlords about any crime prevention group or organization in your neighborhood.
• Extra security: Inform your local police department of any suspicious activity in your Neighborhood. You can also hire a private patrol service for additional protection.
We, at the Ziegel Group Real Estate and Property Management always inspect all the properties that we manage and recommend to our landlords and tenants the best ways to protect your homes.
Remember: the better environment you provide for your tenant, the most likely they will want to stay rather than look for a better place.
More Information can be Found here: National Crime Prevention Council
