According to the latest statistics released by the FBI, violent crime has gone down over the past year, as have property crimes including vandalism and burglary. Violent crime for 2007 was down by 1.4%, which reverses the climb of the two previous years. The FBI shows that property crimes dropped by 2.1%, and arson declined by a whopping 7%.

However, the statistic the feds and the media has been touting recently doesn't make victims of crime over this timeframe feel any better, and it does nothing to make people feel safe within their own homes. In order for this to happen, in order to feel safe, you must take matters into your own hands.

In fact, in many of the smaller metropolitan areas, in cities with populations from 10,000 to 24,999 violent crime, including murder, assault, and robbery increased by 1.9%. In non-metropolitan counties, violent crime increased by 1.8%.

The Criminal Justice Information Services Division, located in West Virginia compiled the statistics, which includes reports from more than 12,000 agencies across the United States.

Despite the seeming downturn in crime, it is still one of the largest problems facing the nation. However, there are some things that everyone can do to help ensure their safety while they are at home.

One of the first things you should do is get some type of home alarm system installed. A lot of times, simply having a sticker on your windows or a post in your yard stating that you have an alarm system is enough to deter those who would break into your home with the intent of stealing your belongings or harming you. Many of the alarms that are on the market today actually have two-way contact with someone in a call center ready to dispatch authorities or emergency services to your home if the need arises. This is a great peace of mind, and doesn't cost as much as many would think.

Aside from investing in a home security system, you can do some other things to help keep yourself and your neighborhood safe. If there is a neighborhood watch, think about joining it. If you feel that you don't have time to become an active member of the community watch, you can at least introduce yourself to the members and see if there is any other way that you might help. After all, these people are helping watch over you, your family, and your property.

Get to know your neighbors so you can get a better idea of who belongs in the neighborhood and who might be considered suspicious. It is better to be cautious and proactive in these situations than to find out later that you could have saved someone's property, or even their life.