The neighbourly thing to do
Published Wednesday September 3rd, 2008
BEYOND THE BADGE
One thing that makes the difference between a good location and a great location is the neighbours you have. It's true that we can't choose our neighbours (I have great ones) but having a neighbour who is looking out for you and your property is a benefit that can't be calculated in dollars and cents.
Most victims of property crime can take steps to reduce the possibility that they will be targeted. The majority of property crimes are not planned but are rather crimes of opportunity. For instance, a criminal sees an open window, an unattended ATV, a residence with flyers piled up at the front door or even a very private back yard! Make sure that at night time, you leave porch lights on and make the area around the outside of your house as visible as possible. Trimming overgrown bushes, installing motion sensor lights, etc. Another concern is vandalism fires. If you have an accumulation of garbage, old toys, wood — basically anything that is flammable on your porch or around your house — get rid of it. The less opportunity you give an individual, the better chance you have of avoiding being a victim.
The most important and effective defense is to look out for each other. Watch your neighbors house if they are away and even if they aren't. Take the time to look out the window to see if there are any individuals that don't belong in the area. Anything unusual or out of the norm is worthy of being noted. If you do note something unusual, you could write down the time, date and location. Any identifying characteristics of the person — clothes, height, weight, glasses, gloves, did they have a limp etc. The more details you note about any strange individuals, the better chance the police have of identifying them and preventing this from continuing. If you do see something that you are not sure of, give your neighbour a call and ask them if they know the person. Sometimes it could be a friend of someone who lives in the house. I guarantee your neighbour won't get mad at you for snooping if you explain that you were just concerned for their safety.
If it is very late at night when you notice someone out of place, please call the police and report it. It might be nothing but you might also be saving somebody's property. Very often, we hear that a neighbor did see someone suspicious but they failed to take any action. If you see something suspicious, call us. We are only too happy to check it out.
The purpose of this article is to bring attention to the fact that by pooling our resources....police, community and concerned citizens, we can bring a little more safety and security to our homes and neighborhood. The police are the community and the community are the police. It is only by working together that we can continue to keep our neighborhoods safe. Be vigilant and work with us!
Another little note,.. Now that the school year has commenced, please be extra careful driving during school hours as there will be a lot more pedestrian traffic around. Especially the little ones who are starting the first year of school. We will continue to be present in school zones, so please watch your speed.
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