As a former police officer of 21 years, I know first-hand how important it is to take these steps to lower the risk to you, and your family. Always call 911 in an emergency. Property crimes are a crime of opportunity, and following these steps help lower that risk. The majority of these crimes occur at night, and are not isolated to one neighborhood.
The 9 p.m. Routine is a campaign that was started by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Florida in 2016. The campaign aims to remind citizens to avoid becoming the victim of preventable crime by securing their houses and vehicles before they go to bed.
The Calgary Police Service is encouraging citizens to complete the 9 p.m. Routine to remind citizens to complete the routine.
The routine includes:
- 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.
___________
- The number of break and enters increase by 20% over summer months.
- A residential break and enter occurs roughly every 2.5 hours in Calgary.
- $7.4 million worth of property has been taken from residential break and enters so far this year.
- 44% of break and enters were completely preventable, with offenders entering through an unlocked door, window or garage, or by stealing a garage door opener from a vehicle parked outside.
- Forced entry was used in only 34% of break and enters.
