Most people’s before-bed routines are similar: brush teeth, wash face, put on pyjamas. But Calgarians are being encouraged to add another few things to their checklist.
As police are preparing for an expected 20 per cent increase in residential break and enters in the summer months, the Calgary Police Service (CPS) is reminding residents to make home protection part of their nighttime routine.
The 9 p.m. Routine — which started in Pasco County, Florida — is a checklist that encourages residents to check all the potentially vulnerable spots in and around their home to make sure they’re protected.
“Property crime, including break and enters, car prowlings and auto thefts, continues to affect citizens across the city,” CPS said in a release.” “In many cases, simply locking up and taking the opportunity away from offenders is enough to stop the crime.”
Since January 2018, $7.4 billion worth of property was stolen through break and enters in Calgary. Police said so far this year, criminals have forced entry in 34 per cent of break and enters — 50 per cent of which happened overnight.
Between January and May 2017, Calgary police investigated 1,678 break and enters, 4,149 car prowlings and 2,592 stolen vehicles.
Each night before going to bed, Calgarians are encouraged to follow a checklist to help secure their homes:
- Remove valuables from vehicles
- Ensure vehicles are locked with windows closed and, if possible, parked in a garage
- Garage doors and windows are closed
- Ensure person-doors in the garage, including those leading into the home, are locked
- Ensure all house doors — front, back, side and garage — are locked
- Ensure all windows are closed
- Turn on an outdoor light
“The routine is simple,” Sgt. Matt Baker said.
“Offenders will often go down a street checking vehicles and houses for doors left open. By simply locking your door you could avoid waking up to an intruder in your home.”
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