Consumer Centre > Theft Prevention
Theft Prevention Tips
- Do not leave jewelry and other valuables lying carelessly around your home, work place or vehicles as they may attract thieves!
- Do not expose or leave large sums of money or keys unnecessarily in view. You never know when you are being watched!
- When leaving your vehicle always remember to secure it properly by locking all doors and windows!
- Do not take unnecessary valuables to the beach nor leave your car, camera, keys, money or other valuables unattended!
- Always lock and secure your doors and windows before leaving or retiring for the night!
- Always record the serial numbers of your computers, television, etc. and take photographs of your other valuables such as jewelry, paintings, etc.! Should they be stolen this will assist the Police with positive identification
Doors & Windows
- Always use 3" screws for strike plates on wooden door jambs
- Always fit secondary track-blocking devices and anti-lift measures to glass sliding doors
- Use a solid core or metal door for all entrance points
- Use a quality, heavy-duty, deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt
- Use a quality, heavy-duty, knob-in-lock set with a dead-latch mechanism
- Use a heavy-duty, four-screw, strike plate with 3-inch screws to penetrate into a wooden door frame
- Use a wide-angle 160° peephole mounted no higher than 58 inches
- Secure all accessible windows with secondary blocking devices
- Make sure someone cannot reach through an open window and unlock the door
- Make sure someone cannot reach inside the window and remove the blocking device
- Use crime prevention or alarm decals on ground accessible windows
- Get to know all your adjacent neighbors
- Invite them into your home and establish trust
- Agree to watch out for each other's home
- Offer to park your car in their driveway
- Return the favor and communicate often
- Use interior light timers to establish a pattern of occupancy
- Exterior lighting should allow 100 foot visibility
- Use light timers or photo-cells to turn on/off lights automatically
- Use infra-red motion sensor lights on the rear of single family homes
- Alarm systems are effective deterrents with visible signage
- Alarm systems to be properly installed, programmed, and maintained
- Alarm systems need to have an audible horn or bell to be effective
- Make sure your alarm response call list is up to date
- Instruct your neighbor how to respond to an alarm bell
- Identify your valuables by engraving your drivers’ license number
- Photograph and record the serial numbers of all valuables
- Photocopy the contents of your wallet and other documents
- Store the copies in a safe deposit box or with a relative
