It would be nice if we still lived in times when we didn’t have to lock our doors to stay safe, but times have changed. Glendale, like many communities, has seen a spike in break-ins and car thefts recently. Responding to the concerns, a Ward 6 Crime Prevention Forum was hosted in Glendale by Councillor Jeff Davison in October. Davison was joined on the stage by eight experts from the Calgary Police Service, including District 2 Inspector Mike Bossley. They offered tips and advice to make sure residents don’t fall victim to crime. The No. 1 piece of advice given to the 160 area residents in attendance: lock up. Police say house-break-in and car thefts are crimes of opportunity. If you make it harder on the criminal, you stay safer.
“70 to 80 percent of break-ins are not forced entry,” said Insp. Bossley. He said drug addiction and mental illness are often factors in neighbourhood crimes being committed, and, while daytime prowlings were once common, most are now committed long after you’ve gone to bed. Police promoted the 9 p.m. routine, calling on homeowners to make sure their cars are locked, garage openers are secure inside the home and all doors are locked. Leaving your porch light on overnight can also influence a bad guy to pass on your home.
Many neighbourhoods, including Glendale, have community blockwatch pages through social media platforms such as Facebook. But Sgt. Doug Crippin said make sure the first call always goes to police. And police want every incident reported, whether a theft is worth $2 or $2,000. “That’s intel we can use,” said Cst. Chris McIntosh. If you are a victim of crime or want to report suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, call 403-266-1234 or email [email protected].
