This Neighbourhood Watch Month, crime prevention partners Crimsafe and Neighbourhood Watch Australasia are sharing practical tips and advice to support you to secure your home and live safer. Securing your home doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. Doing a little each day can help boost your home security Secure Score. Whether you’re renting or own your home, there are simple ways you can secure your home at no cost: +3 points – keep shoes by your front and back doors Leaving a pair of your old shoes at the front and back doors helps give the impression that someone is home. +5 points – lock your gates Locking your gates is a simple and effective way to keep unwanted intruders out. When your gates are locked, it’s much harder for them to get in quietly – forcing them to jump your fence could cause noise, draw attention, or set off sensor lights. +6 points – lock your garden shed and garage Your shed and garage are full of valuable tools and equipment, just like the things inside your home. To live safer and protect these outdoor assets, simply lock up your shed and garage. It’s an easy step that prevents theft and stops tools like screwdrivers and crowbars from being used to break into your house. Take action today to live safer and secure your belongings! +5 points – move your wheelie bins to a secure location, not against your house or a fence It only takes two minutes to move and your wheelie bins away from the house or a fence. Intruders often climb onto bins for easy access to windows or to climb over fences. +5 points – keep your spare key in a secure location Under doormats, on adjacent window ledges, door frames, fake rocks or in mailboxes are some common places intruders will look for spare keys. So always keep a spare in a safe and secure place, in a lockbox, or with a trusted neighbour. +6 points – join your local Neighbourhood Watch group Your local Neighbourhood Watch group will have valuable tips on home security and community safety, while also providing a great opportunity to connect with neighbours and stay informed about safety initiatives in your area. Find a Neighbourhood Watch group here. + 5 points – put your lights on a timer Timers help give the impression that someone is home and actively moving around, making your home a far less inviting target for intruders. +5 points – have your mail collected when on holidays Having a trusted neighbour, friend or family member collect your mail while you’re away or on holidays is an easy way to earn 5 points. Intruders are typically opportunistic, and an overflowing mailbox is a clear sign of an empty house. Learn other ways to live safer in your home Download your printable action plan or visit the Secure Score website, a free online resource, to see how you can easily boost your home’s security. Complete your Secure Score during March, Neighbourhood Watch Month, for your chance to win a $5,000 Home Crimprovement package. About Secure Score The Secure Score tool is a free online resource developed by Crimsafe and Neighbourhood Watch Australasia to help communities to evaluate effectiveness of home security measures and learn ways to live safer in their homes. Average scores have been calculated from data collected via the Secure Score tool since 2021. Partners in crime prevention Neighbourhood Watch Australasia and Crimsafe are proud to be Crime Prevention partners, working to strengthen communities against criminal activities with initiatives like Neighbourhood Watch Month and Secure September. *Total average of Secure Scores from 2021 – 10 Jan 2025. **Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022-23-financial-year), Crime Victimisation, Australia, ABS Website, accessed 11 February 2025.
