The first option to make your house safer is to get to know your neighbourhood, particularly your neighbours. Friendly neighbours can be a big boon for your security. They can report to you if they see someone aside from you or a member of your household nosing around your property and are usually very thankful if you do the same.
Make sure your neighbours know you and your household and swap telephone numbers so you can alert each other in the case of an emergency or simply a suspicion. Always make sure you keep a record of the date, time and physical description of any strangers that seem to be checking out your property or the neighbourhood, particularly if you have noticed this person more than once. Of course, this is just a precaution. Do not jump to the conclusion that whoever is admiring your prize rose in your front garden is a would-be burglar.
Learn more about your neighborhood. If your home is in a neighbourhood with a higher rate of crime, consider installing bars on any windows, especially ground-accessible windows. These act as a visible sign of physical security. Furthermore, consider keeping your curtains closed, especially on the ground floor. This will prevent anyone from looking in and figuring out whether there is anything worth stealing.
The safest home is one located within a safe community. Be involved in your community. A strong community has a better chance of rejecting any negative criminal elements as well as supporting positive ones. In some countries where the crime rate is generally higher than in Malta, communities adopt programs like Neighborhood Watch. This encourages members of a community to watch out for each other, and as a result, common crime in those neighbourhoods is generally lower.
