Crime Prevention and Policing

Crime prevention is a lot of things you might not think of; it's more than just locks, alarms and keeping an eye open for suspicious characters. Each of us is involved in crime prevention activities in our daily lives.

Helping your neighbour, coaching youth, taking part in sport and recreation programs, having family safety plans and educating your family on crime prevention tips are some of the many things that contribute to the health and well being of your community.

Everyone has a role in making their home and their community safe and there are lots of ways to do it!

Crime Prevention Links
Crime Prevention Tips for Seniors
Personal Safety Tips for Adults
Crime Prevention Tips for Children

Policing

Justice Department's Role
Shared Vision

Crime Prevention Tips for Seniors

Protect yourself from fraud:

Never display large sums of money in public. Go shopping in pairs or in a group.
Carrying a credit card, banking debit card or a cheque is safer than carrying large sums of cash.
Some habits such as cashing cheques at month end are no longer considered safe. It would be wise to explore options for "direct deposit" or "direct payment" with your financial institution.
Walk in the centre of the sidewalk or corridor, away from doorways or alleys.
Walk only in well-lit areas and do not burden yourself with packages or a bulky purse.
If you suspect you are being followed, trust your instincts: cross the street, go to the nearest home, service station or business and call the police.
Get to know your neighbours and ask police or Crime Prevention Yukon if there is a Neighbourhood Watch or Block Parent program in your neighborhood.

In your home:

Keep valuables in a safety deposit box at your bank. If this is not possible, keep them locked in a hiding place in your home. Mark valuable items for identification.
Don't keep large amounts of cash at home.
Never let strangers into your home - if they require assistance, ask who you might call to help them.

In your community:

Avoid suspicious contests, travel club offers, retirement estates offered "site unseen", and telephone solicitation of any kind where you are asked to pay a deposit or other charge in advance. Contact the RCMP at 1-867-667-5555 (no charge) to lodge a complaint or request more information.
Contact the police and your bank if anyone claiming to be a bank examiner calls and asks for assistance.
Be cautious of "just passing by" home repairmen offering repair work at a savings. Check the offer with a reputable repair company. Always inspect the credentials of anyone who contacts you or comes to your door and ask for references.
Never sign a contract that you have not read and fully understand.
Before investing money, get a second opinion from a spouse, family member, financial advisor or lawyer.

Personal Safety Tips for Adults

Home Security

Make sure your home is secure. Put deadbolts on doors and good locks on windows.
Change the locks when you move into a new place.
Make sure your entrances are lit and install a peephole in your door.
Get to know your neighbours and keep an eye on each other's homes.
Inquire with police if there is a Neighbourhood Watch or Block Parent program in your community.

In Your Community

When walking, know where you are going.
Stay on well-lit streets.
Don't obstruct your view with parcels that can slow you down.
Pay attention to your instincts - if your gut tells you not to go one way, choose another path. If you feel you are being followed, quickly assess your options. Can you run or change direction? Are there people nearby or houses or businesses to run to? Do what you can, fast. You may not be in danger, but it's best to play it safe.
Contact the RCMP if you see suspicious activity at 1-867-667-5555 (no charge).

In Your Car

When you are driving or parking your car, use common sense to protect yourself.
Lock your doors immediately after you get in your car.
Never pick up hitch-hikers.
Do not stop to pick up stranded motorists. The best thing you can do is call someone like the police to assist.
Park in well lit areas and keep your vehicle locked when it is parked.
If your vehicle breaks down, raise the hood and switch on the hazard lights. Stay inside the car with the windows up and the doors locked. If somebody offers help, assess the situation to see if it is safe to accept assistance. Is the helper another motorist with a family, or a lone driver? If you feel unsafe, ask the helper to call for assistance.
Be alert getting in and out of your car. Always have your keys ready when you approach your car and check that no one is inside before you get in.
Do not keep your car registration and license in your car - they'll tell burglars where you live. Keep them in your purse or wallet instead.

Remember!

Simple precautions can reduce your risk of assault, but even the most alert and cautious person can still end up a victim. If you are assaulted, call the police immediately - the sooner you report the crime, the better. Talk to someone who can help you deal with your feelings about the assault - a friend, a family member, or counselor at the Victim Services Unit / Family Violence Prevention Unit at the Department of Justice.

Crime Prevention Tips for Children

What Parents Can Do

Remember what clothes your children are wearing each day in case they get lost. The more information the police have, the quicker they can locate your children.
Write your children's names and addresses on their clothing out of view, as children are less likely to fear strangers who know their names.
Teach your children to know their full name, age, telephone number, area code, city, province and how to make both a local and long-distance phone call so that they can identify themselves and contact you if they run into trouble.
Being around other children or adults is a great way to reduce the risk of assault.
The more children know about their bodies and acceptable, safe behaviours, the safer they will be. Teach them the proper names of their private body parts and that nobody has the right to touch them without your permission.
Discuss sexual abuse in an open and sincere manner, in the same way you would discuss other safety guidelines.
Children need to be told that their safety is important and that they can play a big part in staying safe. Encourage your children to always report back to you about strange or frightening things that happen.
To encourage an open dialogue with your children, tell them that you will not be angry with them about things that may scare or concern them. A good start is to talk to them in words you are comfortable with, such as:

"Your body is your own and no one should touch you or hurt you.
If someone does touch you, say "No!" and then tell me."

"Sometimes friendly people, people you know, may do things or ask you to do things that are not nice. If they touch you or ask you to touch them, tell me."

"Always tell me if these things happen to you because I love you and I want you to be safe."

For safe computer and Internet use, teach your children to:

never give out any personal information such as their name, address, telephone number or the name and location of their school without a parent's permission
tell you right away if they come across any information that makes them feel uncomfortable.
never agree to meet face to face with someone they have "met" online. If a parent agrees that such a meeting is possible, be sure it is in a public place and in the company of a parent.
never send their picture to anyone online without first checking with a parent.
not respond to e-mail messages that are rude, mean or that make them feel uncomfortable. They should tell a parent right away so that they can contact the system operator.
never give their Internet password to anyone other than a parent.

*Information for this page was obtained from a similar publication of the New Brunswick Public Safety Department.

Crime Prevention Popular Topics

Block Parent Program

Crime Prevention and Policing

Crime Prevention Forms

Crime Prevention Funding Programs

Crime Prevention Links

Crime Prevention Yukon

National Crime Prevention Strategy

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