As Albertans set out on summer vacation and more time is spent away from the home, Alberta RCMP is reminding you to secure your property to help prevent yard theft and break and enters.
Last year, there were 3,940 residential break and enters in Alberta RCMP jurisdiction, with 367 occurring in June of last year.
Property and yard theft are often crimes of opportunity. Learning how to properly secure your property by following simple practices like Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design or CPTED can make all of the difference.
The following are CPTED tips that can help keep your property safe:
- Lighting: Ensure your yard is well lit. Consider installing motion sensor lights at every entry.
- Sightlines: Keep clear sightlines to yards, garages and entries to prevent places for criminals to hide. Make sure trees and bushes aren’t overgrown, creating cover for a potential thief.
- Gates: A locked gate can help deter a criminal who may not want to waste time trying to get through.
- Windows: Keep windows covered and locked when you’re not home. An empty house is a criminal’s playground.
- Alarms: Consider installing a security system, especially on seasonal properties or if you travel often. This will help ensure if anything does happen to your property, authorities will be alerted.
- Locks: Always lock any sheds or garages. Keep valuable items like lawn mowers, barbeques and bikes stored out of sight.
CPTED is an international concept proven to discourage crime and promote security.
If you discover a crime has taken place on your property, you should report it to police immediately. Reports tell police where to look, who to look for and where to patrol in the future.
If you see something suspicious, report it to your local police service. If you see a crime in progress, call 9-1-1. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
