Strathcona County RCMP - Crime Prevention During the Holiday Season

Strathcona County, Alta. - Strathcona County RCMP remind residents that the holiday season is an active time and requires extra vigilance to prevent theft.  It is also a time when busy people let their guard down and become more vulnerable to theft. Crime prevention is especially important during the holiday season. Protecting yourself, vehicle and your home from potential crime is the easiest way to ensure a safe and happy holiday season.

As online shopping ramps up during the holidays, so do the number of thieves waiting to snatch your packages from your front door. To defend yourself against parcel thefts, reroute your packages to a more secure location, have it delivered to a trusted neighbour/friend or ask for a signature upon delivery.

Crime prevention is a shared responsibility. Members of the community are reminded of their role in preventing criminal activity. As a community we need to improve our home security and make it more difficult for offenders to gain access to our properties and ultimately deter them from entering and stealing your property.

Here are some crime prevention tips for the holiday season:

  • Lock up houses, sheds, vehicles and any other property that is easily accessible.
  • Take photos and record serial numbers of property and place in a secure location.
  • Do not leave purses, wallets, cell phones or papers with personal information on them in your vehicle.
  • If you see or suspect suspicious activity notify police immediately.
  • If you will be away from home for several days, make arrangements for someone to pick up your mail and newspapers.

“Crime is a community issue, and crime prevention is a community responsibility”, says Cst. Chantelle Kelly of the Strathcona County RCMP. “Everyone working together can make Strathcona County a safer place to live, work and play.”

Please call the Strathcona County RCMP at 780-467-7741 or call your local police detachment to report a crime or suspicious incident.  If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), by internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by SMS.