1404 days ago

Christmas Crime

Andrew from Half Moon Bay

Sup Neighbors.

I was at Countdown the other night & noticed someone sitting right near the entrance way begging for change. I'm used to seeing it in town but at Highland Park ...bit of a shocker.
I'm not debating the ethics of this, judging them or questioning their character but it did lead me to consider that for many people, this can be a pretty desperate time of year. It's easy for us to forget that.

Too often on this site there are stories of homes and cars being robbed. This type of crime increases around the festive season so I'd like to post this as a reminder to make sure your houses, garages, sheds and vehicles are locked and secure, as required.

Don't leave windows open unnecessarily, lock doors, set alarms and make sure valuables are hidden from sight, not sitting on the passenger seat, front lawn, parcel tray, window sill or porch etc. That's all easy pickings for a thief.

It might also be a good idea to consider updating the pin numbers on your various cards, mobile devices and banking apps too.

Most thieves are just opportunists but there are also dedicated burglars out there who work hard to get their claws on your hard earned money & precious possessions. They couldn't give a **** about taking items of sentimental value & violating your sense of security while doing it.

So where possible, try to stay aware, alert and report suspicious activity. Maybe keep one eye on your neighbors place if they've gone away or are working through the xmas period. Call 105 if you have to.

It's easy to let our guard down at this time of year, especially after the crazy 2020 we've all been through but try to remember that the less effort you put into basic security, the easier you make it for these crooks to take advantage of you, so please stay vigilant.

Be safe and have a great holiday.

More messages from your neighbours
18 hours ago

Six tips for improving security around your home

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.

2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.

3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.

4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.

5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.

6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property

Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.

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3 days ago

Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.

Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?

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Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
  • 43% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
    43% Complete
  • 56.4% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
    56.4% Complete
  • 0.6% Other - I'll share below
    0.6% Complete
1181 votes
18 hours ago

Today’s riddle: For all the curious minds next door!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

My thunder comes before the lightning.
My lightning comes before the clouds.
My rain dries all the land it touches.
What am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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