5 Reasons Why Gated Communities are Safer for Your Family
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Whether you’re looking for a short-term rental or planning to purchase your dream home, deciding where to live is a big decision.
For some people, that decision is all about price. For others, it’s about location. Some folks even prioritize the size or style of the home.
But one thing that almost everyone can agree on is that no matter where they live, they want to feel safe. And that’s why so many people want to live in a gated community.
If you’re preparing to move and safety and security are your top concerns, a gated community might be the best decision you’ll ever make. Read on to learn why.
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Are Gated Communities Safer?
The Crime and Justice Research Alliance reports that homes in non-gated communities are burglarized 33% more than homes in gated communities.
In addition to fewer burglaries, gates also reduce other types of property crime that make neighborhoods less safe, such as vandalism and auto theft.
While gated neighborhoods do add an extra layer of security, gates alone are not enough to prevent 100% of crimes in your neighborhood.
Why?
Because even within a gated community, it’s still possible for someone who lives there to commit a criminal act. Yes, even someone’s next door neighbor could be that guy (although it’s still unlikely).
However, gates still keep out enough criminals — especially those who commit crimes of opportunity — to significantly decrease the overall rate of crime.
Five Reasons Why Gated Communities are Safer
According to the Crime and Justice Research Alliance report cited above, gated communities are safer.
Here’s a look at the top five reasons why.
Security Systems are Crime Deterrents
Gated neighborhoods usually have security systems that monitor the entry and exit of everyone that passes through the gates. Those systems often include video surveillance cameras placed in obvious and visible areas so that it’s no surprise to anyone that their comings and goings are being monitored and recorded.
In addition to video surveillance, most gated communities also have 24/7 guards that monitor the entrance points and/or patrol the grounds.
Burglars and other would-be criminals often look for crimes of opportunity and few commit crimes intending to get caught. Locked gates, video cameras, security guards, and the need for security passwords and access codes are usually enough to deter and prevent the average criminal from passing through the gates.
Less Traffic
Less vehicle traffic makes the streets safer for everyone, including pedestrians, cyclists, other drivers, and children playing outside.
Even though auto accidents can happen anywhere, at any time and for any number of reasons, less vehicle traffic can reduce the number of accidents that occur on your streets.
Gated Communities Provide Limited Access
Along with reducing vehicle traffic, gates also limit foot traffic.
Only residents and their wanted, invited guests are allowed “behind the gates.” Non-residents and unwanted guests, including potential criminals and harmless (but sometimes annoying) solicitors, are prohibited from entering.
By limiting access to your home and neighborhood, you increase your level of privacy.
The limited access provided by gates also makes it more likely that if someone does break into the community, they’ll be spotted and identified as someone who shouldn’t be there.
This is good news for homeowners living behind secured gates, as most criminals know this and will choose to move onto an easier target.
Less Visibility
Less traffic and limited access lead to less visibility, which increases your level of security overall. Fewer people will be able to even discover your home, which means they won’t be able to identify your family or your residence as a potential future target.
Neighbors Tend to Look Out for Each Other
You don’t have to be best friends with your neighbor to want to keep an eye out for their property, or to trust them to do the same for yours.
Gated communities tend to make it easier to meet and connect with your neighbors. Join one and you’ll notice a strong “sense of community,” often supported by community activities and neighbor-only events. This increases the desire for neighbors to look out for one another (and each other’s homes).
Neighbors in gated communities share an invested interest in keeping their neighborhood safe. Safe streets with low crime rates also contribute to higher property values, and every homeowner cares about that!
Even if you don’t want to get to know your neighbors (or know them and don’t like them), it’s to everyone’s benefit to keep an eye out for each other’s homes, cars, and property.
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How To Make Your Home and Community Safer
If you don’t live in a gated neighborhood, there are some things you can do on your own to improve the safety and security of your home and surroundings.
The more homes in the neighborhood that put these security measures in place, the safer the community. So, consider sharing these ideas with your neighbors, too.
Install Home Security Systems With Security Cameras
It only takes a few minutes to install or replace security cameras. Provide yourself with added protection by installing and making them visible on your own home.
Increase security further by talking with other neighbors and nearby business owners about adding surveillance cameras throughout your neighborhood.
A full security system with 24/7 monitoring is best, but even a closed security system that you monitor yourself can be beneficial.
Along with security cameras, there are several other measures you can take to improve the safety of your home. We cover these below.
Glass Break Sensors
Glass break sensors are small sensors that attach to doors and windows and alert with an alarm when the glass breaks.
If a criminal shatters a door or window to gain entry to your home, the sound of the alarm is often enough to scare them off.
Motion Detection Alarms
Motion detectors sound an alarm every time someone passes in front of the sensor. Most people disable them when they’re at home, but when you’re away, they can be an invaluable tool and yet another way to scare a criminal away.
Doorbell Cameras
Doorbell cameras, as well as doorbell cameras with motion sensor lights, have revolutionized home safety. Install them on every door and you can monitor them 24/7 if you’re connected to the system’s app.
Hire a Security Team
Depending on your level of concern, consider hiring a residential security company to patrol your neighborhood or protect your block.
Of course, it’s recommended that you speak to your neighbors about this first. Some neighbors may be willing to contribute to the cost of hiring a security team.
At the same time, you should expect that some local residents may not be willing or able to share the added expense.
If you can’t gather together enough neighbors to pay for a security team — or don’t want to pay for it on your own — your next best option is to organize a neighborhood watch.
The idea of a neighborhood watch is not new. For decades, concerned citizens and members of communities around the country have been keeping an eye on their own neighborhoods.
The more neighbors you can get on board with a community watch program, the easier it will be to create a patrol schedule for protecting your streets and home.
Looking to hire a residential security guard in California? View our top recommended residential security services here.
Improve Lighting
Yes, some criminals commit their crimes in broad daylight.
But many more prefer to do their bad deeds beneath the cover of darkness. If you want to make your community safer, ensure that it’s well lit.
Add more lights on your own property, and install bright street lights throughout the neighborhood.
Outside your home, install motion sensor lights near garages, driveways, sliding glass doors, deck doors, back doors, and any ground-level windows that a criminal might target as an easy entry point for a break-in.
You can also put your indoor lights on timers so that they turn on or off according to a pre-set schedule. Or, install lights that can be remotely controlled via an app or home automation system.
Most criminals won’t damage your property or attempt a break-in if they think you’re on the premises. Just turn on a few lights and they’re more likely to give up and move on.
Secure Your Keys
It goes without saying that you should always lock your windows and doors, especially at night when you’re asleep or when you’re not at home. But that won’t do you much good if you keep a spare key outside.
That plastic-looking fake rock nestled outside your door isn’t going to fool anyone. If anything, it’s one of the first vulnerabilities for which burglars look.
Instead of hiding a spare key in an unsecured place, consider installing a digital lock or smart lock on your doors so that you don’t have to leave a spare key outside.
If you like the idea of keeping a spare key within easy reach, secure it inside of a durable lock box instead of less-secure solutions like inside a false rock or underneath a door mat.
Don’t Let a Gated Community Provide a False Sense of Security
Living in a gated community offers peace of mind, but never assume that your home or residential community are immune to crime.
No matter where you live or how “nice” your neighborhood may be, you must stay vigilant about the security of your own home.
Here are some best practices for bolstering the security of your private property, whether you live behind gates or not:
- Always lock your windows and doors. Criminals look for easy targets, and an unlocked door is one of the easiest targets there is.
- Lock your car every time you park, and do not leave a garage door remote in the car. Should a criminal break into your car, they’ll have instant access to your home. Instead, put your door opener on a garage door keychain and keep it with you.
- Install adequate lighting around your property at all vulnerable points of entry. These include ground floor windows and sliding glass doors.
- Don’t post on social media that you’re on or about to go on a vacation. Telling a criminal that you’re out of town only makes you a bigger target. Instead, wait until you return home from vacation to post about it.
- The key to maintaining a secure home is to be vigilant and keep your eyes open. Be smart about your family’s safety and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Criminals look for easy targets, so take precautions and don’t make yourself into one.
Read About: 43 Shocking U.S. Burglary Statistics
Gated Community FAQs
What is a Gated Community?
A gated community is any neighborhood or group of residential homes surrounded by locked gates or walls, with designated entry points. It can contain groups of individual homes, townhouses, or condominiums.
How Do Gated Communities Work?
Gates control access to and from the homes inside, whether someone is driving, walking, or riding a bike. Access requires the use of a security code, key card, key fob, or permitted entry from a security guard.
Are There Other Benefits to Living in a Gated Community?
Gated communities often include a variety of amenities, such as private parks, common areas, and security staffing. Some communities offer a wide variety of luxury amenities, including swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses, state-of-the-art gyms, and clubhouses.
Does it Cost More to Live in a Gated Community?
Gated communities have HOAs, and homeowners associations charge fees for community maintenance and the amenities provided. HOAs also require that residents live and abide by a specific set of regulations and rules. HOA fees and regulations vary quite a bit amongst different communities around the country.
A lot of people associate the idea of “gated communities” with celebrity enclaves, like Calabasas in Los Angeles County or Star Island in Miami Beach. But gated communities exist all across the country in different forms, and you don’t have to have extreme amounts of wealth to enjoy what they have to offer.
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If you’re ready to rent in a new location or buy a home to live in for decades to come, keep gated communities in mind on your real estate search. Not only are they safer, but they offer far more benefits than you may think.
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