You don’t have to love them. You don’t even have to like them. But learning the names on your block does more than fuel small talk. It helps prevent crime, according to guidance from the Kennesaw Police Department..
Translation: basic human interaction beats porch cameras at one crucial thing—context. When you know who belongs where, “suspicious” stops being a vibe and starts being a verifiable detail.
What you actually get from a quick hello, per Kennesaw Police Department:
- Better detection: Knowing your neighbors makes it easier to spot activity that’s out of place.
- Faster alerts: If a burglary or crime happens, neighbors can share information and watch for related activity.
- Self-checks: Talking about local happenings nudges everyone to think about their own security habits.
- Safer kids: Stronger communities are better at supervising neighborhood children.
- Mutual respect: Healthy communities build trust between neighbors.
- Less conflict: Crime is less likely when families know and respect one another.
None of this requires a block party. It requires awareness, a conversation, and a willingness to share what you see with the people who live around you.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
