When it comes to Arizona’s crime rate, there’s good and bad news. The 2017 data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed a downward trend on the national level. From almost 393 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2016, it declined by nearly a percent the following year.
Metro Phoenix didn’t follow the same pattern, however. Within the same period, violent crimes increased. Property crimes such as burglaries didn’t change. The report cited many possible reasons for the gaps. These can include the non-standard manner of reporting (such as underreporting) and the locality itself. Some areas are vulnerable to offenses than the others.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: those who live in Arizona, especially in the Metro Phoenix area, should consider improving their odds of not becoming a statistic. These suggestions can help:
1. Install Window Tints
In Arizona, residential window tint provides significant economic benefits to the owners:
- It improves energy efficiency, which can translate to lower utility bills.
- It can increase the lifespan of furniture, whose colors can fade when exposed to sunlight.
- It can boost curb appeal, increasing the property’s value.
- It protects the glass.
Most of all, it enhances the level of privacy and can deter burglars from breaking in. Informal surveys conducted on people arrested for property crimes revealed burglars are picky with homes. They prefer those they can access as quickly as possible. As much as possible, too, they want to avoid running into the homeowners while committing their crimes. Tinting the windows makes surveying and robbing the home difficult for them.
2. Be Mindful of the People around You
One of the growing violent crimes in Arizona is assault. In 2017, it reached 345 for every 100,000 people, a sharp increase from 315.6 in 2016. Assaults can happen in many different ways. One of these is date rape. It can happen among 18% of the women and 1% of the men.
This type of assault usually occurs with the help of drugs. The perpetrator can lace the drinks with medication that can lead to unconsciousness and even temporary loss of memory. Contrary to popular belief, the common perpetrators are already people the victims know. These can be their partners or college friends.
It’s always best to exercise caution when meeting new people and inviting them to your homes. Don’t accept drinks from acquaintances, and be watchful of patterns of abuse against you or other people.
3. Train Yourself with Self-defense
No one can guarantee a person’s safety, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared at all times. One can carry a licensed gun, or they can train themselves with self-defense. The likes of Krav Maga already teach techniques that are easy to apply when a person is on a tight spot.
4. Don’t Overshare on Social Media
Homeowners are becoming tech-savvy, but so do the burglars. They can use Google Street View to locate houses. They can check social media accounts to gather the following information:
- Whether the homeowners are in the office or on holiday (in other words, out of the house)
- Types of valuables that may be present inside the home
- Possible layout of the homes
As scary as it might sound, some people do watch other’s movements. As a deterrent, prevent oversharing personal information on social media. These tips can help individuals prevent crime or give themselves the best odds of surviving a possible attack on their life and property.
