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.

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?

Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?

• Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
• No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
• Other - I'll share below

Vote View Results

• 42.1% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
  42.1% Complete
• 57.3% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
  57.3% Complete
• 0.5% Other - I'll share below
  0.5% Complete

1324 votes

Poll: Do you think the idea will work?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

The Government will today unveil a radical new plan to underwrite construction of new private houses, as high interest rates and an economic downturn make it tough for developers to get finance for new projects.

The new time-limited scheme is designed to de-risk developments, making finance easier to obtain for developers to start building. Developers often have to pre-sell a proportion of dwellings in any development in order to secure finance, which has become much more difficult in the current economic downturn.

Do you think the idea will work? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

Do you think the idea will work?

• Yes
• Not sure
• No

Vote View Results

• 33.3% Yes
  33.3% Complete
• 27.8% Not sure
  27.8% Complete
• 38.9% No
  38.9% Complete

36 votes