Property crime might be on the rise compared to statistics dating back about five years. But that does not mean we should start looking over our shoulders all the time, automatically suspecting anyone we do not immediately recognize and always assuming the worst.
What it does mean is that perhaps now more than any time in recent history, residents of communities throughout the province should strive to remain alert and be aware of their surroundings as well as depend on relatives, friends and neighbours.
Yet while endeavouring to be vigilant, equally as important is refraining from resorting to vigilantism, which can potentially turn a bad situation into a deadly scenario. However, that does not mean people cannot ó or should not ó take measures to protect themselves and their property.
If your home will be vacant for any extended period of time, ask a friend, relative or neighbour to drop by once in a while. This can be great, not only to check on everything, but to help out with any plants or pets that might need some attention as well.
Also, try to avoid advertising any lengthy absences such as vacations or business trips on social media. Just post all of your pictures and thoughts when you get home, and actually take the time to enjoy wherever you are rather than obsessively interacting with whatever device you prefer! As an added benefit, whoever you're travelling with will no doubt thank you.
And should your budget allow, new home security systems feature cameras that can be remotely accessed through apps. As a bonus to this approach, your insurance company will lower your rate.
But sometimes, all the preventive steps in the world won't stop a potential burglar from prowling around your property. If you get a chance, observe and provide police prompt, detailed reports without delay.
Remember that most offenders come from cities, and that either way we should never let the actions of a fringe minority skew our perspective on the majority.
For example, despite living in a perpetual war zone, Iraqis in a 2016 survey were apparently identified as the world's most likely people to help a random stranger, with a little more than 80 per cent of the respondents saying they had recently helped someone they did not know. This is according to data gather by Gallup and published by the Charities Aid Foundation in an annual report called the World Giving Index.
That percentage in Canada drops to shy of 70 per cent, and we don't even have coalition airstrikes coming at us from one direction and Islamist extremists coming at us with explosives-laden vehicles from the other.
In reality, we actually have little to no excuse not to help others, let alone be suspicious of them.
"Property crime is certainly staying fairly high, compared with a five-year average. Everything else has been fairly consistent across the board," Sundre's Sgt. Jim Lank recently told local municipal officials.
In other words, while break-ins and thefts have indeed gone up over the past few years, serious violent crimes such as assault and murder are not on the rise.
Of course that being said, if you do happen to witness any activity that has you concerned, call the police as soon as possible to report specific details such as times, locations, licence plate numbers, vehicle makes, or descriptions of suspicious persons and what they were doing.
Meanwhile, remember that Alberta ó and Canada for that matter ó remains on average among the safest places on the planet to live.
