Home Security Info & Tips

Your home is more than just a building, and the belongings that fill your home are more than just "stuff".  Homes represent family, friends, history, and community, the foundations of who we are. And crimes like vandalism, break and enter, and theft that target homes are upsetting in addition to being costly and inconvenient to recover from. 

Whether you own or rent and whether you live in an apartment, a townhouse or a house, protecting your home is the first step to protecting your neighbourhood and your community.

Did you know?

Residential break and enters follow trends.

Analysis of Coquitlam RCMP stats shows that many residential break and enters happen during good weather (when many of us leave windows and doors open for ventilation), during popular vacation times like winter and summer school breaks (when many houses are unoccupied and left untended), and during common work hours (when there is a good chance of homes being unoccupied).

There are simple things you  can do to boost the security of your home and reduce the risk of break and enters.

By using CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) techniques around the exterior of your home, you can make a big difference to your security at home. Contact your local Community Police Station to find out more about CPTED.

Do: 

• Make your home visible from the street so criminals have nowhere to hide.
• Create the illusion of occupancy when you're away by making sure mail is picked up, the yard is maintained and lights are on timers.
• Consider investing in a multi-zone, verified alarm systems. Coquitlam RCMP gives priority response to multi-zone and verified alarms.
• Keep records such as purchase receipts, appraisal reports, serial numbers and photographs of your valuables to help police identify your property if it is stolen. 
• Thorough reference checks if you are planning a renovation or considering hiring a dog-walker, pet-sitter, house-keeper or any other contractor that will have access to your home.

Don't:

• Hide spare keys outside your home. If you need to have spare keys available, leave them with a trusted neighbour.
• Leave your home untended while you are out of town. Arrange to have mail picked up, yard maintenance done and consider putting lights on a timer so your home doesn't look empty.
• Help criminals. Close and lock your doors and windows.  Don't leave your garage door opener in a vehicle parked on the street. Lock up ladders or tools that could help a criminal get into your home.
• Post your vacation plans on social networking sites or voicemail greetings.
• Pay for a single-zone or unmonitored alarm system.  Coquitlam RCMP gives priority response to multi-zone and verified alarm systems.

Condo Safety Tips

• When entering or leaving underground parking garages, wait for the automatic gate to close before proceeding.
• It is okay to be rude, don't hold building doors open for strangers.
• Join Block Watch to help create stronger and safer communities. Keep an eye on each other’s homes and reporting suspicious activity to each other and to the police.
• Keep receipts , appraisals, serial numbers and photographs of valuables.
• Check on your storage lockers and empty your mailbox regularly.
• Invest in a high quality lock for your storage locker.

View larger image of the Condo Crime Prevention Tip sheet

If you see something, say something!

Public safety is everyone's responsibility—and it's easy. The best way to do your part for public safety is to get connected to your neighbourhood, pay attention to what is going on around you and report any criminal or suspicious activity to the police. Find out more about reporting criminal and suspicious activity to the Coquitlam RCMP.