Safety Tips / Crime Prevention

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While law enforcement will always be available to respond to crime, we need your active participation to help prevent it. The police can’t do it alone – get informed, get involved and make crime prevention part of your everyday life. Together, we can continue to build a safer New Brunswick for all.

N.B. Crime Stoppers, along with various law enforcement partners have compiled some safety tips to increase your security at home, in public, and on the job:

Apartment

Does your entry door have a deadbolt lock and peephole?
Does your sliding glass door have a wooden rod in the track so it can’t be opened, and pins in the overhead frame so it can’t be lifted out?
Does your landlord or building manager tightly control all keys?
Is there some kind of control over who enters and leaves the building?
Are walkways, entrances, parking areas, elevators, hallways, stairs, laundry rooms and storage areas well-lit 24 hours a day?
Are fire stairs locked from the stairwell side above the ground floor so that you can exit but no one can enter?
Are things well maintained? Are burnt-out lights fixed promptly, shrubs trimmed, trash and snow removed?

House or Structure

clearly delineate private property (e.g., yard, driveway, walkway) from public space (e.g., street, sidewalk) through shrubbery, alternate paving stone colour, and changes in grade
provide unobstructed views of the surrounding area
ensure entrances are visible and overlooked by window
avoid landscaping that may conceal offenders
install bright security lights
use solid-core exterior doors
use solid door frames with proper strike plates

Small Business

Leave cash registers empty and open after hours to deter burglars.
Make sure all exterior doors have adequate locking mechanisms or install a secondary lock, i.e. deadbolt locks.
Leave an interior light on all night.
Check interior for possible access to the roof and secure all ladders and garbage dumpsters.
Use exterior lighting to increase the visibility in parking lots and entrances.
Move valuable merchandise away from the door or windows to prevent smash and grab thefts.
Install a safe or strong security cabinet to store valuable documents or keys used in your business.
Install an enunciator on entrances to alert you that a customer has entered.
Don’t tag your keys with the name of your business. Change locks if keys are lost or not returned by a former employee.
Don’t open the door until you are fully ready to do business, and don’t count receipts until you lock up.
Never resist an armed robber.

Travel Safety

Don’t answer the door in a hotel or motel room without verifying who it is. If a person claims to be an employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from their staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.
When returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the hotel. Be observant and look around before entering parking lots.
Close the door securely whenever you are in the room and use all locking devices provided.
Don’t needlessly display guest room key in public or carelessly leave them on restaurants tables, at the swimming pool, or other places where they can be easily stolen.
Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry. Don’t invite strangers to your room.
Place all valuables in the hotel or motel’s safe deposit box.
Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
Check to see that any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors are locked.
If you see any suspicious activity, please report your observations to the management.

Street Safety

Use common sense; plan your route to avoid lonely areas such as parks, parking lots, garages and alleyways; stick to well-lit areas.
Men should carry wallets in their front pants pocket – hip pockets and inside vest pockets are the first places a pickpocket looks.
Women should carry billfolds or coin-purses in the inside pocket of their coats. Carry your purse like a football under your arm by turning it upside down and keeping your fingers on the clasp or zipper. Don’t put purse straps over your shoulder or around your neck. A quick swish of a knife or razor can loosen the purse.
Carry minimal possessions; overloading yourself interferes with your vision and makes you appear more vulnerable.
Get into the habit of paying close attention to your surroundings, and avoid “automatic pilot”.
Walk with purpose; project an assertive or businesslike image.
If you see trouble, do you have a plan? Would you be willing to cross the street? Duck into a store or business that’s open.
If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach the car; instead, turn and quickly walk in the other direction.
If someone is following you on foot, cross the street and change direction.
Watch your body space; don’t let people get too close, even if they appear to have a reason, like asking for time, change, etc.

Vehicle Safety

Have keys in hand as you leave the building.
Parked vehicles provide good hiding places (inside, outside and underneath). Be alert as you approach your vehicle
Back off if you see anyone loitering near your vehicle.
Enter your vehicle quickly and lock the door immediately.
If followed or bothered, drive to a public place, store or business and honk your horn to attract attention.
Make it a habit to leave your vehicle locked and empty of possessions.

Other Resources:

N.B. Crime Stoppers wishes to thank the many law enforcement agencies for providing the material used in creating these safety tips for the public. Visit their websites for more information:

PLEASE NOTE: Links to Web sites not under the control of N.B. Crime Stoppers, Inc. are provided solely for the convenience of visitors. Crime Stoppers is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or reliability of the content. Crime Stoppers does not offer any guarantee in that regard and is not responsible for the information found through these links, nor does it endorse the sites and their content.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – Fraud: Recognize it. Report it. Stop it.
RCMP-GRC Reference Tool: Drug Identification Chart
National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR)
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC)
Crime Stoppers International
Cybertip.ca – Tipline to report sexual exploitation of children
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Justice and Public Safety
RCMP/GRC New Brunswick

N.B. Crime Stoppers

1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

1-800-222-TIPS

Safety Tips / Crime Prevention

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