Lock It or Loose It Fast, easy tips to protect your vehicle against theft
It takes just seconds for a criminal to break into your vehicle. Less than a minute later, your valuables — even your entire vehicle — could be gone. It can take weeks to settle an auto theft insurance claim, and... Read More
Vandalism Cut the cost of Vandalism, How to reduce vandalism in your neighborhood
Vandalism takes time and money to clean up or repair, whether it happens on private or public property.Vandalism that includes hateful messages can hurt individuals or groups of people. Vandalism can be dangerous, too... Read More
Liaison Officer
Constable Eric Levesque 2951 is our newCommunity Liaison Officer
He can be reached at 403-567-6300 (Office) or 403-880-9773 (cell).
Introduction from Constable Eric Levesue:
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the community members of Mount Pleasant, as I have recently taken over the position of Community Liaison Officer (District 3) for your community. I am Cst. Eric Levesque of the Calgary Police Service, and I have served in various communities and in a variety of capacities for the past 19 years. Effectiveness in my current position depends on a close relationship with the communities I serve; therefore, I am grateful for the opportunity to communicate with so many of you through your newsletter.
Cut the costs of vandalism! How to reduce vandalism in your neighborhood Did you know . . .
That vandalism is never a victimless crime?
Vandalism takes time and money to clean up or repair, whether it happens on private or public property.
Vandalism that includes hateful messages can hurt individuals or groups of people.
Vandalism can be dangerous, too - how would you feel if a child was injured because a stop sign was removed, for example, or if someone couldn't call 9-1-1 because a phone had been broken?
Every member of the community can help prevent vandalism. Here's how!
What does vandalism look like? Vandalism takes many forms, some of which include:
Graffiti
Broken street lights
Spray paint on road signs
Knocked-over mailboxes
Damaged fences
Overturned garbage cans
Broken glass left on playgrounds or roads
What should I do if I see vandalism?
If you see vandalism or graffiti in progress, call the Calgary Police Service at 9-1-1.
To report vandalism that has already occurred, call the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.
To report graffiti that has already occurred, call the City of Calgary at 3-1-1.
How can I help to prevent vandalism?
When vandalism and graffiti occur in a neighbourhood, they tend to attract further incidents - that's why it's so important to clean up or repair the damage as quickly as possible. (The City of Calgary requires, for example, that graffiti be removed or painted over within 72 hours.) Other preventive measures include: Using good lighting and locking gates and garages around your business or home.
Knowing your neighbours, and being watchful for strangers.
Working with Calgary Block Watch (www.calgaryblockwatch.com; 403-509-2565) to help build strong communities.
Visiting www.calgary.ca for tips on graffiti clean-up, including paint discounts.
Requesting presentations or information about vandalism prevention from your Calgary Police Service community liaison officer or from the City of Calgary.
Calling the City of Calgary at 3-1-1 to report abandoned cars, so that they can be removed as quickly as possible.
Supporting recreational programs for young people in your community.
Organizing clean-up or repair projects in your neighbourhood.
Adopting a street or park in your neighbourhood to care for it and keep it clean
Lock It or Loose It
Lock it or lose it! Fast, easy tips to protect your vehicle against theft
It takes just seconds for a criminal to break into your vehicle. Less than a minute later, your valuables - even your entire vehicle - could be gone. It can take weeks to settle an auto theft insurance claim, and since claims are usually based on your vehicle's value rather than its replacement cost, it could leave you thousands of dollars short - all for the sake of a few oments of your time.
Since vehicle theft is often a crime of opportunity, the Calgary Police Service recommends these measures to make your vehicle less attractive to thieves.
Lock it up. Close the windows, lock the doors and the trunk, and take your keys with you - never leave your vehicle unlocked, even for the few minutes it takes to duck into a store or run back into the house. And don't hide a key on the vehicle - criminals know ALL the hiding spots.
Turn it off. Never leave your vehicle idling alone, even if you lock the doors. It costs the environment in emissions, and it could cost you when a criminal bypasses the door lock in seconds.
Hide your valuables. Wherever and whenever you park, remove your valuables - including any removable stereos. If that's not practical (you're in the middle of a shopping day, for example), hide the valuables in the trunk, out of sight, and then move the vehicle to a different place in the parking lot. Thieves watch parking lots to see who's stashing shopping bags and then heading back into the mall.
Stow it right. If you have a garage, use it and lock it. If you don't, choose a parking spot that's as well lit and well travelled as possible, within sight of your windows.
Think security. If your vehicle has an alarm, use it. If it doesn't, consider installing one, or at least using an anti-theft device such as a steering-wheel locking bar. These items can deter some criminals, and can delay others. If your vehicle is especially attractive to criminals, consider installing a security system such as an electronic vehicle disabling device, a hood-locking device or a location tracking system.
Protect yourself. Never leave any identifying information, such as your name, address, phone number or vehicle registration/insurance in the vehicle. Carry it in your wallet or purse instead, and never leave these items in the vehicle. You'll also need the registration and insurance details in case the vehicle is stolen, so it's a great idea to make an extra copy of these documents, to keep at home.
Report it! If you see suspicious people in or around vehicles, call the Calgary Police Service at 266-1234. And if your vehicle is broken into or stolen, report it to police right away, regardless of loss or insurance coverage. Break-ins are rarely isolated - reporting them immediately with as much detail as possible can help police in their investigation.
For more crime prevention tips, visit the Calgary Police Service web site at www.calgarypolice.ca. m
Residential Break-and-Enters
Many house break-and-enters are committed by culprits looking for easy opportunities — if you take those opportunities away, you can help protect yourself and your property.The majority of house break-and-enters occur during the day time when residents are away; however, they can also occur at night, usually when no one is home.The Calgary Police Service suggests these quick and easy ways to help protect your home:
Start outside: Trim plants in your yard to eliminate potential hiding places for burglars. Consider using a type of fence that offers a compromise between privacy and visibility. Pay particular attention to trees growing near your house — could a burglar climb a tree to get onto the roof and then enter through an upper-storey window? If you’re in a condo or apartment, how easy would it be for someone to climb in through one of your windows?
Show your pride: Keep your yard maintained to give the house a lived-in, cared-for appearance. Cut the grass, plant flowers, and remove dead branches and debris. This sends the message that you care about your home and your neighbourhood.
Light it up: Install exterior lights to brighten dark areas around doors or windows to make them more easily seen by passersby. Motion-sensor and photo (light) sensitive lights can help. Also make sure that emergency personnel can easily see your address from the street and back alley, even at night.
Lock it up: Keep house doors locked when you’re inside. When you’re out in your back yard, keep your front door and windows locked — and vice versa. Also, keep garage doors closed and locked.
Check your doors: Exterior doors and frames should be made of wood or steel, which are harder to force open than hollow-core doors. Frames around outside doors should fit snugly against the door. Glass in outside doors should be at least 1 metre or 40 inches from the lock or be unbreakable. If you don’t have glass in the door, install a peephole viewer so that you can see who is outside without opening your door.
Use deadbolt-style locks: Secure all outside doors with deadbolt locks (which require a key to lock and unlock them from outside). Reinforce the locks with longer screws and strike plates to make them less vulnerable to being forced open. Door hinges should be attached securely by screws that go through the door frame into the supporting stud — the hinges shouldn’t be exposed on the outside.
Double-check your windows: Take a close look at your windows, to see how they operate and how they lock. If any of the locks are broken or no longer work properly, replace them. To keep sliding doors and windows from being lifted out of their tracks, limit clearance by installing screws that protrude down from the top track.
Putting it all together: You can take other measures to help you keep your home safe: Consider installing a monitored alarm system to warn you of dangers such as break-ins, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning, for example. It’s easy for people to see inside your home at night when the lights are on, so keep window coverings closed during night-time hours. And always close and lock any windows that could be used to gain access to your home while you’re sleeping — even on those hot summer nights.
In addition to these measures, community residents can also protect themselves by looking out for their neighbours.Please report any suspicious activity to the Calgary Police Service.As well, in order to improve the chances of solving these crimes, all house break-and-enters, including those of detached garages, should be reported to the Calgary Police Service.Often, break-and-enter culprits will commit numerous crimes in a community or adjacent communities.District 3 currently has officers assigned to investigate residential break-and-enters, and the more information available to investigators the greater the likelihood of a successful investigation.
If you witness a crime in progress, call 911; if it is a non-emergency, call 266-1234.In addition, you may also call the District 3 Crime Information Line at 206-5338 or your Community Liaison Officer, Cst. Levesque, at 880-9773
By working together, community residents and the Calgary Police Service can increase the safety in our communities.
