Citizens of Howard County should have a system of security in place because crime happens everywhere, and we would all want our neighbors to be on the lookout if they see or hear anything suspicious. For starters, it’s important to have an alarm system in your house so that you can protect your family and prized possessions while you are gone or even while you are home. A security system gives many people the peace of mind that their home is safe while they are away or sleeping.

It’s also safe to have a neighborhood watch who knows everyone in the community because they would know who lives in what house if there are any break-ins. They would also know if any unusual people are in their neighborhood just lurking around. When people have neighborhood watches, there usually aren’t as many robberies or assaults because the watch would be able to give the police and the people in that area information about what they may have seen. If your neighborhood has signs that say “neighborhood watch,” it may deter criminals from even committing the crimes in the first place.

People should also get the Ring camera doorbell because when someone is at your doorstep, you can see who they are and even communicate with them through your phone. The cameras record any time there is movement, so your doorbell could even catch a crime being committed and provide you with evidence for the proper authorities. In addition to the benefits about crime, the Ring doorbell system can also notify you when you have a package arrive.

Not everyone is in agreement about the best course of action in regards to safety. OMHS Sophomore, Jasmine Addison, says that neighborhood watches may be disturbing because if a crime were to happen, people could bring unnecessary or dangerous attention to themselves. In addition, some neighborhood watchers may jump to the wrong conclusions if they see a “suspicious person” around the neighborhood. Addison believes that the Ring camera and a home security system may be better solutions to the problem at hand.

Whatever your solution may be, it is important that we all step up and do our part to keep Columbia a safe place for all of our families.