In a perfect world, asking to borrow sugar or getting together for the annual block party would be the only times neighbors in close-knit communities would have to reach out to each other. But today, mounting crime, particularly within neighborhoods in urban and city areas, has become another basis for establishing a connection with those next door.

For residents of crime-heavy Atlanta, protecting themselves against intruders, robbery and other crime-related activities has become a bit easier, thanks to Village Defense, the creators of a social enterprise solution that has added new meaning to the term, “neighborhood watch.”

Village Defense functions as a low-cost, real-time communications alert system that connects residents and allows them to send and receive crime alerts within a local network. Similar to the concept of voice broadcast technology – in which one tailored message is transmitted to large groups of people at a time – one phone call or text message can notify neighbors when any suspicious activity is occurring in the area, within seconds.

“Village Defense transforms the traditional neighborhood watch system by drastically increasing local information flow and offering a vital communication system to neighborhoods that otherwise wouldn’t have one,” said Nathan Black, a recent Georgia Tech graduate and co-founder of Village Defense, in a press release. “With this unique system, we’ve seen more than a 70 percent reduction in crime, resulting in stronger, safer communities; less-burdened law enforcement agencies; and incredibly grateful residents.”

First available in Atlanta, Village Defense has now gone nationwide, meaning for less than $1 a month per person, neighborhoods can sign up for the network and begin receiving alerts. Atlanta residents that have already used Village Defense attest to its success for serving as an additional layer of security in their communities.

“After my own door was kicked in while I was at work, it dawned on me that criminals were capitalizing on the fact that neighbors don’t communicate with each other in an effective way. If criminals coordinate their efforts, why can’t we?” said Sharath Mekala, president and co-founder of Village Defense, in a press release. “Oddly, with 21st Century technology and media, you can learn in seconds about a school shooting half-way around the world yet not even know about a burglary happening across the street. Village Defense eradicates this isolation by generating greater connectivity among neighbors. The goal, common to all, is to create safer places to live by preventing or stopping crime altogether.”

Tammy Wolf is a TMCnet web editor. She covers a wide range of topics, including IP communications and information technology. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell