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Crime Stoppers Promotes “Lock-toberfest” Activities
Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg is looking to help reduce the number of property related incidents occurring in our community and as a result is encouraging everyone to participate in what the program is calling “Lock-toberfest.” The promotion is designed to encourage the public to look at different areas where they might take advantage of crime prevention techniques to help discourage criminals from targeting their property. Focusing on different areas; this initiative will be conducted in two segments (home, cottage, agricultural; and vehicles) and will look to help educate the public about things they can do to help crime proof their community.
“Crime Stoppers wants to encourage people to get involved in what’s going on in their community and this means not only anonymously reporting information on criminal activity, but also working to prevent crime from occurring,” states Gord Little, Chairperson for Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg. He adds, “Criminals strike when they have the opportunity. But when we take the time to help crime proof our property, we reduce this opportunity and lessen the chance of a crime occurring.”
Now that the summer is over and people are closing up local vacation properties as well as getting ready to leave for sunnier destinations, the first segment of the “Lock-toberfest” promotion will focus on crime prevention techniques for homes, cottages and outbuildings. A tip sheet is attached highlighting some of the things individuals can do to help secure their property. For more information on how to crime proof your home, cottage or outbuildings contact your local police service.
In addition to touting the importance of exercising good crime prevention techniques, Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg also encourages anyone with information about property crimes or any crime to contact their office.
Crime Stoppers is a community based organization which provides people with an anonymous, confidential way to relay information to investigators without ever having to get involved as a witness. The program’s toll free 1-800-222-TIPS line and online webtips (www.helpsolvecrime.com) are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and cash rewards are offered for information that leads to an arrest or charge.
Next week, a crime prevention tip sheet will be issued outlining some of the things you can do to help deter would be thieves from targeting your vehicles and recreational vehicles.
Crime Prevention Tips for Home, Cottage & Outbuildings
Crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility. By incorporating the below tips into your daily life, you can increase your personal safety and help to reduce the chance of being victimized by criminals.
- Thieves hate bright lights. Install outside lighting to eliminate dark areas around doors and windows. Use motion detector lights or lights on timers that come on automatically.
- Make sure external doors, in your home and outbuildings are solid wood or metal.
- Install deadbolts on all exterior doors. Criminals can easily defeat conventional chain locks and key / knob locks.
- Leave a spare key to your residence or cottage with a trustworthy neighbour and never leave a key hidden outside on your property.
- Have a door viewer (“peep hole”) installed in your door.
- Make sure windows have good quality locks installed on them and then be sure to use them.
- If you can afford it, have an alarm system installed.
- Ensure that your property looks “lived in” even when you may not be there.
- have a neighbour pick up your mail or suspend mail service
- arrange to have someone cut your lawn / remove snow from your drive and walk ways
- leave inside lights on timers
- consider leaving a radio on a timer as well
- never leave a message on your answering machine stating that you are away
- Trim trees and shrubs that block sight lines to your windows and doors
- Establish relationships with neighbours and check on each other’s property when away.
- Be sure to engrave all valuables with a unique number (licence plate, etc) and participate in programs that are available such as “Mutual Protect” or “Operation Identification.” For deterrent purposes, the identification mark should be visible so that a would-be thief can see that the property is marked and possibly more difficult to re-sell.
- Record the contents of your home, cottage or outbuilding (including serial numbers) on paper or using a video camera for identification purposes.
- Glass within 40 inches of a door lock can be broken and a criminal can reach inside to unlock the door. The security of windows at the sides of doors can be improved by adding a polycarbonate panel in them.
- Door kick break ins to homes can happen fast. To secure a door properly, the screws installing the doors should be at least 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches long.
- Secure basement windows with polycarbonate panes or with security bars (but if using the later, make sure that any bars have an escape feature in the event of a fire).
- If you have a sliding door, use a broom handle or security bar in the bottom track to prevent the door from being opened. Also insert screws in the upper track going into the fixed frame, to prevent anyone from lifting the door from its track.
- Keep your garage doors closed and locked.
- Remove expensive items from your vacation property when away for extended periods of time.
- Don’t leave articles out that could assist a would-be thief in breaking in to your residence (tools, ladders, etc).
- Get together with others in the community to start a Neighbourhood or Farm Watch group. Involve all ages, and work with law enforcement.
Garages, barns, outbuildings and machinery
Many of the above tips also apply to garages, barns and outbuildings and in addition….
- Secure your outbuilding as you would your home. Install dead-bolt locks with heavy duty strike plates which use three inch wood screws.
- Always unplug the garage door openers when on vacation.
- Make it difficult for anyone to see what valuables you have in your garage / outbuilding. Cover and secure the windows that lead into your garage.
- Warn thieves that you're on the alert with "No Trespassing," "No Hunting," and other signs around your property.
- Secure gas pumps, gas tanks, storage bins, and grain elevators with sturdy padlocks or dead bolts.
- Keep small equipment – like mowers, bikes, etc - locked in a barn or garage.
- Keep guns locked (with an approved firearms safety device) and unloaded in a secure place to prevent unauthorized use. Guns and ammunition should be stored separately.
- Never leave keys in vehicles or farm equipment. Always lock your trucks and other vehicles when they're not in use. And don't leave tools in the open box of a pick-up truck or in an unsecured truck bed toolbox.
- Don't leave major equipment in a field overnight. Lock it in a barn or shed near the house, or park where it can be seen. If machines must be left out for long periods of time, disable them by removing the rotor, distributor or battery.
- Store harvested crops in protected and locked locations.
- Keep outbuildings neat and well-organized so that any theft will be noticed immediately. This also warns potential thieves that owners are watchful.
- Check employees’ references before hiring them. Before they start, talk to them regarding your crime prevention measures.
For more information on crime prevention and/or programs that are available in your area, contact your local police service.
(Created with input from the Ontario Provincial Police, Crime Prevention Section)