A message from the Federation of Calgary Communities
Special thanks to the Calgary Police Service Crime Prevention Unit for their input.
The Christmas season is prime time for car prowlers and thieves. Here are a few tips to help reduce your risk:
- When you exit or enter your parked vehicle, stop and look around the area
- Before leaving your parked car, always remove the keys, roll up the windows and lock the doors
- Park in a well-lit area, use parking lots frequented by others and avoid parking behind fences or hedges
- Put all valuables and gifts in your trunk. If that’s not possible, conceal gifts and other valuables
- Try not to unload gifts in your vehicle and then leave it unattended in the same parking spot. Car prowlers might be on the lookout for shoppers traveling back and forth from stores to unload gifts
- Never leave your car running unattended
- If you park in an attached garage, always lock the door leading from the house to the garage and the garage door
- If you don’t park in a secure garage at home, don’t leave gifts in cars overnight
- If your car is stored in a carport or parked near your house, leave your exterior lights on throughout the night
- If you park on the street, choose a well-lit, open space
- Consider replacing the light fixture closest to your car with a motion detector unit. Motion detectors are good psychological deterrents
- After opening an automatic gate to underground parking, wait for the gate to close before you park. Watch out for thieves waiting to slip in behind you
- Avoid parking in attended lots. They’re a major source of copied keys which can be used later to steal your vehicle and valuables.
Prevent crime by reporting suspicious behaviour to police at 403-266-1234. Call 911 for a crime in progress.
