Property Crime Reduction Tips, from Unity/Wilkie/Macklin RCMP

With the Christmas season fast approaching, many shoppers will be out filling their vehicles with their gifts and groceries. Thieves will also be out looking to take advantage of those shoppers leaving gift items unattended in their vehicles. Over the holiday season incidents involving thefts from vehicles and vehicle thefts increase.

Traditionally, while responding to these crimes it has been noted that in some cases extra measures could have been taken in order to help prevent these crimes from occurring in the first place.

The RCMP asks for your help in protecting yourself and preventing these crimes by using the following tips to deter those would be thieves:

• Making sure to lock your vehicle doors and close windows tightly.
• Parking your vehicle in a well-lit area if possible to deter thieves.
• Taking valuables and other important items out of your vehicle or putting them out of sight so thieves are not attracted to the contents.
• Locking up items in the trunk of your car or putting them out of sight when they must be left in your vehicle, so that they are not visible from outside of your vehicle.
• Never leave the keys in your vehicle when it is unattended.
• Consider installing alarm systems in your vehicles to alert you of any theft or attempts.
• Taking firearms and ammunition out of unattended vehicles. This could prevent criminals from having easy access to weapons. Keep in mind that you could also be criminally charged for not properly securing your firearm.
• Taking extra caution at home by closing curtains and blinds when not at home so thieves cannot see valuables inside.
• Locking the doors of your home whenever you are out and no one is at home.

By taking these preventative measures it will be harder for thieves to steal from you and will give them less incentive to target our communities.

Persons with information about crimes being committed are urged to call the Unity RCMP detachment at 306-228-6300; the Wilkie RCMP at 306-843-3480; or the Macklin RCMP at 306-753-2171. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may also call Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at1-800-222-8477, or *8477 on the SaskTel Mobility Network. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information which leads to the arrest of person(s) responsible for any serious crime. Crime Stoppers is anonymous and does not subscribe to call display, nor are your calls traced or recorded.

You can also submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.