**TIMMINS POLICE SERVICES MEDIA RELEASE**

In keeping with Crime Prevention Week, the Timmins Police Service is issuing general crime prevention tips

1)Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, the benefit of locking your doors is unmistakable.

2)Leave lights on, or a radio playing (talk radio station preferred) when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect lighting to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.

3)Keep your garage door closed and locked, even when home. If you do leave your garage door open and it is an attached garage – lock the door into the house.

4)Discontinue daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away.Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to collect it regularly.

5)Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.

6)Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary

7)Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available to enhance your security.Even a wooden dowel or a track blocker will help prevent the door from opening.

8)If you are going on vacation, have someone you trust make routine checks on your property and make it so your residence looks occupied.

9)Lawn mowers, snow blowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight in a locked shed or garage. Adopt the habit of always locking your shed or garage.

10)Never leave notes on your door that indicate you are not home. Well intentioned, these notes tend to serve as an invitation to petty thieves.

11)Thieves typically go for the easiest target they can find. These are not sophisticated criminals by any means so whatever measures a property owner takes on to “harden the target” so that the risk of being seen or caught is greater, will likely cause your neighborhood petty thief to move on to an easier target.

Filed under: Local News