Awareness
The May Long Weekend has long been regarded as the unofficial kick-off to summer in Alberta. Families across the Province are known to load up the car or camper and head to the great outdoors! The welcoming of warmer weather and weekend getaways, such as the May Long Weekend, typically means leaving your home for longer periods than usual.
Many people wonder if their home will be safe while they are away, and the last thing you want to receive while out in the mountains enjoying your weekend is a phone call telling you that your house was robbed, or even worse, coming home to discover damage and loss.
Here are some tips to help you ensure your home is secure before you hit the open road this May Long Weekend.
Inside your home
- Check every door and window to make sure everything is locked and sealed. Don’t forget your basement windows! If you have sliding windows or doors, put a piece of wood or a metal rod on the track so it can’t be pushed open.
- Leave some blinds or drapes open. If your house is completely closed off, it appears no one is there.
- If you don't already have your jewellery or other valuables in a safe deposit box, now might be the time to do so. Doing this also ensures that you don't leave out anything valuable in plain sight that a burglar might be able to see from a window.
- Set timers on electronics inside your house. If someone is watching your home and sees that there is no activity going on inside your house, it is a clear indicator that you are not home.
- If you have an alarm, make sure it is armed when you leave!
Outside your home
- Make sure there are no spare keys laying around that are “hidden” under a mat or rock.
- If you are extending your getaway, enlist a trusted neighbour to collect your mail. If papers and mail are piled up outside your home, it is obvious that someone has not been home for a while.
- Set timers on lights outside your home. The darker it is outside your house, the more appealing it is for burglars because they’re harder to see. Timers also help give the impression that someone is home.
- Ensure your garage is locked. Even if there is no entrance to your house from the garage, there's still a chance for numerous things to be stolen. Secure the door and any entrances to the garage.
Assess, then address
Assessing your home’s security is an important step in crime prevention. Your home should look protected, well-maintained, and always appear occupied. Most homeowners will find that there are many areas of their home security that require attention.
Friendly Reminders
Report crime online!
The RCMP are encouraging all Albertans to report eligible crimes online (select property crimes under $5,000). Reporting less serious crimes online helps emergency dispatch and frontline members focus their time on high-priority calls. It provides a convenient way to share photos to the RCMP as well. These reports assist in crime analysis, aid in establishing trends and patterns, and ultimately leads investigators to the chronic offenders. It also assists in making decisions about how and where to deploy resources. Crimes reported online will be taken just as seriously as crime reported in any other way.
Help reduce crime, report online! #ReportSmart
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May 19, 2022