Brinkley Station Townhouse Association (BSTA)

Keeping Our Community Safe

Everyone wants a safe place to call home. It is up to everyone to pitch in to keep crime rates down. All of us can take a few simple steps that will go a long way in reducing or eliminating theft, vandalism and other crime in our community.

Know Your Neighbors
And not just the neighbors on your block, but also the neighbors from all parts of the community. At the very least, you’ll get a better idea of who actually lives (and in turn, who belongs) here. Talking with your neighbors will also give the Community a chance to find out if they have noticed any crimes or suspicious activity in the community recently so that you can be on the lookout as well.

Consider creating and distributing a list with all member’s contact information so that the BSTA board and neighbors can alert each other of any problems that arise. Of course, the Board must get permission first to put your information on the list.

Leave the Lights On
A good way to deter criminals from breaking into homes in your community is to make sure your front porch light stays on all night, even when you are out of town. Not only does it signal that someone is home, it also makes it harder for vandals to hide in the shadows.

If you’re worried that you’ll either forget to turn the light on at night or off in the morning, you can purchase an inexpensive timer that will automatically do that for you every day. 

Lock Up
If we want to keep unwanted guests out, try not to make your homes within the community inviting. Even when homeowners are around, it is best to keep all gates, and doors locked at all times. It is also a good idea to keep your windows closed and locked when possible, especially on the ground floor.
 
Put on Your Walking Shoes
Taking a stroll around the BSTA Community is not just good exercise for the BSTA Board and residents, it is essential to have eyes on the community. You can casually patrol the community for anything suspicious or unusual, as well as swap notes about criminal activity in the area with neighbors who are out and about. Also, when more residents regularly walk around the Community, it can help deter those who are afraid of getting caught in the act.

Clean Up
Picking up litter, removing graffiti and keeping trees, bushes and lawns trimmed not only makes the community look better, but it also sends the message that our residents are diligent about keeping the neighborhood a respectable place to live. This can help discourage troublemakers from hanging around our community and encourage responsible and involved people to move to the BSTA Community.