A new Neighbourhood Watch campaign has been launched to encourage South Australian householders to improve their home security with the aim of reducing crime in communities statewide.

The campaign provides practical home security tips and directs people to the Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) website, where they can access tools and information to help make their homes safer and more secure. https://www.police.sa.gov.au/nhw/home

A key feature of the campaign is a 10-question home security habits quiz, developed to help users identify free changes they can make to improve their home security and reduce the risk of having their home broken into.

NHW state coordinator Kirsty Mudge says the campaign built upon the success of the NHW SA program, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, by providing home security messages throughout the state, not just in areas with existing NHW groups.

“Nothing beats receiving face-to-face advice from a Neighbourhood Watch volunteer who knows your local community intimately, but there is a growing role for campaigns in ensuring everyone in the state can access reliable, quality crime prevention information that is easy to implement,” she says.

“Home break-ins can seriously impact families and individuals – from the cost to replace damaged items to psychological effects. We need to prevent break-ins from occurring.”

The objective of the campaign is to encourage householders to improve their home security to reduce crime and create safer, more connected communities.”

The campaign includes some lesser-known tips for making homes less appealing to potential intruders. For example, planting roses under your windows creates a prickly barrier for anyone thinking about breaking in.

“We know the cost of home security upgrades can put people off, so our quiz encourages householders to make small changes to their habits that can have a big impact on crime,” Kirsty says. “Simple actions such as locking doors and windows, securing valuables and being aware of your surroundings can help deter criminals.”

The campaign includes digital advertising, venue posters and letterbox drops to ensure the messaging reaches as many South Australians as possible.