Knowing the neighbors is not always the easiest thing, especially if you live in a crowded neighborhood.
That said you’d like to think you know as many as those around you as possible. That desired is oftentimes escalated if you’re a woman and/or you have a family.
So, would you be shocked to learn that a sex offender or two could be living right nearby?
Unfortunately for many people, that is oftentimes the case.
While some sex offenders go on after an offense to never bother or hurt anyone again, that is always not the case.
With that in mind, how can you improve your chances of knowing if a sex offender or two is in or coming to your neighborhood? If you do discover such a thing, what can you do about it within the rules of the law?
Researching Those Around You
Without being paranoid over the subject, knowing if a sex offender is in your vicinity is certainly should not be considered strange.
As the news oftentimes reports, such individuals (male and female) have the potential to cause harm to you and/or your family.
One of the ways to go about finding out such information is tapping into criminal records checks looking for sex offenders.
With such online checks, you are better able to know if there might be a danger or two lurking in your neighborhood.
That said keeping you and/or your family safe involves a number of practices that you should keep sight of regularly.
Among those:
- Protecting your surroundings – Unfortunately, too many people can become complacent even in their own surroundings. Things such as leaving doors unlocked because of low neighborhood crime rates, leaving windows open where someone can gain entry into your home etc. Although you’d like to think you do not have to worry about being safe in your own neighborhood, the crime reports oftentimes tell a different story. Always make sure your home or apartment is as secure as possible, lessening the odds that you could be the next crime victim. Having a secure home will also make it worth more when the day comes that you want to sell it. By having as many safety features in it as possible, potential buyers are likely to feel safer there. Also, don’t be too complacent when out for a walk or run in your neighborhood. Just because you live there and feel safe doesn’t mean you can’t fall victim to crime.
Trust Your Neighbors to Help One Another
- Communication with those around you – Although many neighborhoods may not be what they were several decades ago in terms of people knowing one another, that is no reason for you to wave a white flag. When you move into a new neighborhood, do your best to meet and greet those around you. Sure, some neighbors will be less than enthusiastic about such things, but others are likely to be open to getting to know you. For those in the latter group, you can form some friendships that offer numerous benefits. One such benefit is keeping an eye out for one another, especially when it comes to neighborhood safety;
- Report suspicious happenings – Finally, too many residents unfortunately are willing to come forward to police when they sense something is wrong. If you see something out of character for your neighborhood, don’t be afraid to report it to authorities. In doing so, you may ultimately prevent a serious crime from taking place, one that could involve you. Over time, neighbors get used to one another’s various routines (what time they come and go from work, when they go to and from school, what period of the year they may go on trips etc.). Without being the nosey neighbor, keeping tabs on your neighborhood is not a bad thing.
From sex offenders to unusual people coming and going from your neighborhood, keep your eyes and ears open as much as possible.
In doing so, you’ll feel just a little bit safer about your surroundings.