A neighborhood alert is a digital tool that’s crafted to improve safety, security and communication. They are often used in conjunction with home security systems. They can be accessed on mobile phones, computers or tablets and typically work best for entire communities such as gated communities, HOA’s or apartment complexes. They can be managed by community administrators, security companies or property managers. These apps help people report suspicious activity to neighbors, local authorities and other residents in real time. They also make it easy to inform neighbors and other residents when they are going on vacation or if they will be away from home for an extended period of time, so others can keep an eye on their homes.
The most popular neighborhood watch apps are those that offer a crime prevention platform, which is usually built in to the app’s social media interface. This allows the app to communicate directly with law enforcement, making it useful for neighborhoods where residents are worried about a variety of issues including car break-ins, burglaries and vandalism. It can also help with reporting lost pets, registered offenders and real estate for sale, as well as identifying good times to do home improvement projects.
The best neighborhood alert system will provide context to its residents. Crime data can be messy and confusing, especially when it’s being fed from police departments, which may or may not be attempting to inform the public of crime trends in their area. A system that blindly sends notifications of 911 Calls for Service to nearby residents without context is more likely to cause alarm than reassure its users.