February 2023

WHAT DOES A

SECURE COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOU? By Daniel Reilly, Planned Companies

I n today’s world, there is an evermore desire to have a sense of security where one resides and is a necessity versus a luxury. When a committee or board says, “nothing bad ever happens here,” that’s nice to hear, but does that mean your property is secure? It never hurts to take a deeper look at security for a safer community. The following is a quick checklist to see how secure-safe a property is: ✔ Security Committee — Many associations have found it quite helpful to form a volunteer committee that helps monitor suspicious activity, work with security vendors, and consult with experts to ensure that their community has proper surveillance and safety measures. ✔ Liaison to your local law enforcement — Having a dedicated contact from your local law enforcement that

can directly communicate with your board or committee is quite effective. Reporting suspicious activity, monitoring/ supporting your community during the holidays, specific events, or investigation of a criminal case that has occurred to a resident/guest. ✔ Gate/Desk or Vehicle roving patrol — Depending on the community type, this may be a very effective way to control who is coming into the property, and in some cases, who is snooping around your property. You should provide your board and property management provider the documentation for specific incidents that may come about. When it makes sense for a property’s budget and layout, having physical security in your community adds an extra layer of defense that can make all the difference.

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