In an effort to assist rural residents with reducing the risk of becoming victims of property crime, the Bashaw RCMP suggest paying close attention to  property’s environmental design and provide the following tips.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a set of design principles aimed at reducing opportunities for crime to take place.

Adjustments to your property can effectively deter criminals by making it more difficult or less desirable to commit crime.

By following the three ‘Ds’ of CPTED, property owners can lower the risk of being victims of crime.

Securing your home, business and its contents will offer the best advantage for delaying criminals. The more time it takes a criminal to overcome a security function, the more likely they will be detected and caught.

Ways to increase your ability to detect unwanted guests can include installing adequate night-time lighting and using a security system. Good lighting, a clear line of sight from your main building and decreasing hiding spots around your property will make detection easier.

The design of your property has the most significant impact on security. Simple adjustments like installing lights and concealing valuables can have a major impact in deterring criminals.

Examples include:

• Keep the windows and doors of your home and outbuildings locked.
• Install security lights or turn on exterior lights in the evening.
• Install a security camera system.
• Store ATVs and vehicles in a garage, remove the keys, and lock everything.
• Do not hide keys on your property, including under doormats, vehicle sun visors, or in fuel caps.
• Trim trees and shrubs to avoid landscaping that may conceal offenders.
• Develop a security routine in which you ensure that your valuables are stored and your property is secured, every night.

For more information on RCMP’s CPTED, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh51Iwqln4I.