Local business owners can do a lot to prevent crime in their premises simply by making sure the interiors of their facilities are easily seen by passersby, according to Olds RCMP Cpl. Shawn Morgan.
Morgan made that point during an Olds & District Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn session at the Cow Palace.
"We're looking at something called crime prevention through environmental design," Morgan said. "Without getting too involved in it, essentially, it's designing your environment to target-harden; so not making it easy for criminals to enter your property without being seen."
He said for example, convenience stores used to fill their windows with big posters or signs advertising various things.
That creates a problem though.
"It covers the windows so that police or passersby cannot see in. A theft ed or crime prevention through environmental design response to that would be ëtake those signs down.'
"So now, the passing public could see into that store. If there's an emergency in that store, it's more apt to be reported. And also, people can see in. If there's something going on, they won't walk in to harm's way," Morgan said.
He said auxiliary police have been asked to create a "security audit" for businesses and residential property owners.
"We might be able to send out a volunteer officer who might be able to help you look at your locks, look at your fencelines ñ pretty basic security things that can be a deterrent to some criminals. That would include lighting as well," he said.
Morgan said lately thieves have been cutting chain-link fences in order to obtain access to various items. He has discovered there's a security system for those fences.
"There is an intrusion detection device that will alert the owner through their existing alarm system that their fence has been cut," Morgan said. "The technology is out there. It's as simple as a braid of wire that goes the entire perimeter of the fence, hooks into your existing alarm system.
"The way it works is on wavelength. So the wind blowing against your fence will create a certain wavelength ñ a certain vibration on that fence, so it won't set an alarm off for that.
"However, somebody cutting the fence will create a different, more sharp wavelength, and that's how that intrusion would be detected and it would alarm to a security company that you're already paying for. So that would enhance an existing security system."
Morgan conceded this system would cost property owners "some money." However, he said if it protects property worth more than the cost to install the system, it would likely be worth it.
"If there's an emergency in that store, it's more apt to be reported. And also, people can see in. If there's something going on, they won't walk in to harm's way."CPL. SHAWN MORGANOLDS RCMP
