(BPT) – Did you know that many police departments have a community affairs officer whose primary goal is to build a strong working relationship with the community? That means you have access to a trained safety expert who wants to give you ideas to keep your home and neighborhood safe.

Read on for eight simple home security hacks from a recent home safety evaluation conducted by a police officer.

1. Change the locks

When was the last time you changed the locks? How many previous owners have there been and how many keys have been given out to neighbors, friends, family or delivery people? You never know who has a second copy, and for less than $100 at Home Depot, you can change your locks immediately.

2. Replace outdoor lightbulbs

If you don’t have outdoor flood lights, get them. If you have them, make sure the bulbs are in working order.

3. Place an alarm sign in your yard

Many would-be thieves won’t approach a house if they think it has an alarm. You can get an alarm sign online.

4. Buy an indoor camera

Cameras can capture a suspect in the act and let homeowners check the footage from anywhere. FunLux indoor cameras offer high-quality images and night vision, and they’re motion activated and affordable. You can get them on Amazon for about $25 each.

5. Get out the garden shears

Every bush outside of your windows should be below the window line, usually 2-3 feet in height, to maximize your visibility from the inside of your house to the outside, so that means you must trim your bushes. You can get garden shears at your local hardware store for $15.

6. Bake some cookies

One of the best ways to stay safe is to work together as a neighborhood. We all need to keep an eye on each other and what better way to start that relationship than with a plate of cookies?

7. Protect your neighborhood

There are many measures you can take to improve your community safety, with varying levels of affordability. Some cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and some, like Flock Safety, you can buy for less than $3 per month, per home. Outdoor security cameras, like Flock Safety, can reduce crime and prevent would-be criminals from entering the neighborhood.

8. Ask for a security survey

Officers will walk around your house, inside and out, to assess its safety and could reveal some surprising tips. They want to help, and they are motivated to solve and prevent crime.

For more information on keeping your home and neighborhood secure, as well as a free cost estimate for outdoor security cameras, visit www.flocksafety.com/securityhacks.