Your Peace of Mind
Alberta summers are a time of long, sun-filled days that stretch well into the evening, offering ample opportunities for outdoor activities and social gatherings. However, the extended daylight and increased outdoor activity can sometimes lead to a rise in property crime rates during these months. It’s crucial to maintain a nightly routine that ensures your home, and belongings remain safe.
The Calgary Police Service has been emphasizing the importance of the 9PM Routine, a simple yet effective strategy aimed at reducing property crimes and increasing community safety. This routine involves residents setting a daily reminder to check their homes and vehicles at 9PM to ensure that all doors and windows are locked, valuables are removed from vehicles, and exterior lights are turned on. By making these actions a nightly habit, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of becoming victims of theft and break-ins.
The 9PM Routine is part of a broader community policing initiative that encourages proactive measures and community involvement in crime prevention. Calgary Police have reported that areas where residents consistently follow this routine often see a decrease in property crime rates. The principle behind this initiative is straightforward: by securing homes and vehicles, residents can make it more difficult for opportunistic criminals to access their property, thereby deterring crime. Furthermore, this routine promotes a sense of vigilance and responsibility within the community, fostering a safer and more connected neighbourhood.
The Routine recommends:
• Removing valuables from vehicles.
• Ensuring vehicles are locked, windows are closed, and if possible, parked in a garage.
• Closing garage doors and windows.
• Locking any person-doors in the garage, including those leading into a house. Checking that all house doors – front, back, side, and garage – are locked. Ensuring all windows are shut.
• Turning on an exterior light.
A Warning
The amount of car prowlings are up in a big way in Kingsland according to CRO Mike Colbert. Cst. Colbert strongly recommends that the residents of Kingsland learn about and follow the 9PM Routine to bring down the number of thefts. Car prowling and thefts fall into the ‘Crime of Opportunity’ category. These crimes occur when a perpetrator sees an unexpected and convenient (e.g. unlocked car door) chance to commit an illegal act (theft of car contents) and seizes it. Typically, the opportunity presents itself in a way that makes the crime seem easy to execute with minimal risk of getting caught. If you see someone prowling or committing a break and enter, call 9-1-1 as it is an active crime.
To learn more, watch this video of an active vehicle prowling posted on Facebook by Calgary Police: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155429162429530.
Five Minutes
The brilliance of the 9PM Routine lies in its simplicity and the ease with which it can be integrated into daily life. Consistency is key; by making these actions a habitual part of one’s evening, they become second nature, requiring minimal effort yet yielding significant results. It takes only five minutes to keep your property safe so you can enjoy your summer to the fullest!
Help Tip
So that you don’t forget, please feel free to cut out and place this reminder on your fridge or door.
Click here to the Kingsland Community News home page for the latest Kingsland community updates.
