Close and lock all windows each time you leave your home.
If you have an alarm, ensure to set it before you leave home.
Keep your doors locked even though you may just be in your back yard. It doesn’t take long for a thief to slip into and out of your home.
Avoid doing the following:
Leaving empty cartons in your carport, yard or driveway. You are advertising that you have a brand-new flat screen TV, laptop, iPad or other very desirable object to steal.
Keeping your vacation plans on social networks like Facebook. It is easy to gain access to personal information once it’s entered onto Facebook or another social network.
Keeping ladders or tools on the outside of your home. If it can be used to get into your home, keep it locked up and out of sight.
Letting strangers in your building. Most people will understand that you are not being rude by not letting them in. Your neighbours will thank you for helping to keep the building safe.
Leaving anything of value in parked vehicles. Always lock vehicle doors.
Be involved in your neighbourhood:
Get to know your neighbours. Knowing who belongs in your building is a great way to protect yourself.
Join or start a Block Watch group in your building. This will encourage everyone in the complex to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and share the information with each other and with the police. Learn more about Block Watch.
Whether you are involved in Block Watch or not, follow the Golden Rule of community safety: If you see something, say something. Always report suspicious activity to the police.
Protect your belongings:
Always keep your vehicle locked, even if it’s parked in your carport or driveway. Don’t be fooled into thinking your vehicle is safe.
Record serial numbers, keep a log, and take pictures of items in your storage locker.
Check on your storage locker from time to time to make sure items are safe and nothing has been tampered with. If you find that it has been broken into, call your local RCMP Detachment; we want to know about it even if nothing has been stolen.
Tips to help keep your home secure:
While on vacation, arrange for someone to shovel/mow the lawn and park in your driveway. It’s ideal to have someone you trust, house-sit for you so your home is still lived in while you are away. If this is not possible, make sure your home looks lived in.
Make sure your house number is visible during the day and night. In an emergency, you want emergency crews to find your house number as soon as possible.
Use timers on indoor lights and tamper-proof, motion sensor lights around the perimeter of your home. Lighting is the most effective crime prevention tool, since criminals do not want to be seen.
Install a door viewer so you know who is at your door before you open it. Know who is there before you open your door and home to a stranger.
Talk to your building manager or Strata Council about installing security cameras.
Consider installing a doorbell camera. Along with the added security footage, this would allow you to see who is at your door and even speak to them remotely.