Monday, November 05, 2012

Crime Prevention week
This week of Nov 4th to 9th is crime Prevention week. Each day a media release will be made with a crime prevention theme. Inquiries about Crime Prevention week can be made through Cst Alain Bedard North Bay Police Community Resource Officer at 705-497 5588.

Crime Prevention is EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY!
Do your part to build strong and safe communities:
1. Discuss crime prevention with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
2. Protect your family, your property and yourself.
3. Get involved in your community.
4. Speak up for victims of crime.
Theme of the day - “Don’t give it away, secure your assets!”

Through proper attention to home security and protection, you can reduce and discourage break-ins. Follow these simple and effective measures:
Home
• Discourage theft of valuables by identifying property and maintaining an inventory of brands, serial and model numbers of all household possessions. Make video or take photographs of all your valuables.
• Insure your home and contents, and store valuables in a safety deposit box.
• Install dead-bolt locks on all exterior doors and self-tapping screws in the upper track of patio doors and windows.
• Consider installing a home security system and ensure that everybody in the house knows how it works.
• Ensure that entry locks are changed or re-keyed if you are a new tenant or home owner.
• Secure all basement and ground level windows and patio doors. Use protective glass or window film where possible. Never leave accessible windows open, especially while sleeping.
• Give your home the ‘lived-in’ look, with light-activating automatic timers, motion sensors, etc. Have mail, newspapers, flyers, etc., picked up, lawn cut or snow removed when you are away on vacation or business. When possible, cancel all deliveries when being away from your home.
• Trim all shrubs and trees so that doors and windows are in clear view.
• Use clock timers to activate lights/radios at various intervals when away from your home.
• Don’t forget to lock and secure your unattached garage/shed as it should be considered a part of your own which often is a target for break-ins.
• Don’t leave notes on your door or on the apartment lobby directory.
• Consider installing motion-sensor lighting in the front and back yards of your home.
Vehicle
• Don’t leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
• Lock all doors and windows of your vehicle after entering and exiting.
• Don’t leave personal identification or valuables in plain view inside your vehicle.
• Consider installing an anti-theft device and a locking gas cap in your vehicle.
• Keep your garage doors closed/locked if possible with the locked vehicle inside.
• Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
Myths and Facts about Home Security

Almost everyone has an opinion on trends in break-and –enters – why they occur or how to prevent them. Here are some facts regarding a few myths about break-ins:

Myth: Most residential break-ins happen at night.
Fact: Most residential break-ins actually happen during the day, when the majority of people are not at home.

Myth: A chain lock offers good security.
Fact: People buy chain locks in the belief that they provide adequate protection when answering the door. But the fact is that chain locks actually offer very little protection against the threat of a forced entry, and can result in a false sense of security when a superior lock is disengaged (i.e. one inch deadbolt lock). A wide-angle peephole on your door is far superior because it will allow you to see who is outside your door while preventing the person from seeing inside your home, and possibly breaking the chain lock.

Myth: An alarm system is all that I need to protect my home and family.
Fact: Although residential alarm systems do indeed offer an increased level of security and some deterrence to criminals, they should not be considered as exclusive replacements for home security measures, but should be used in conjunction with them. Police do not directly monitor burglar alarm systems, and it may take a few minutes before the call is directed to the police by the alarm company. Thieves most often only spend between three to four minutes in a home, and in most cases the criminal will be gone before the police arrive.

Tomorrow’s theme of the day: “All Seniors deserve to live in safety”

Anyone with information on these or any other crimes are asked to call Near north Crime Stoppers at 476-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-222TIPS (8477). Submit tip online at our website www.nearnorthcrimestoppers.com. All tipsters remain anonymous.