Brampton - Brampton - The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) have launched their 2013 Crime Prevention Campaign.

This year’s theme is “Crime Prevention…It Starts With You.”

The campaign focuses on a broad range of issues that impact citizens across the province. Residents need to start taking an active role in the safety of their home and neighbourhoods, and the prevention of crime.

This can include:

• Reporting suspicious activity
• Making sure your house looks occupied at all times (e.g., newspapers/flyers picked up, grass cut, snow shovelled, lights)
• Trimming hedges below the window level to eliminate hiding spots
• Re-keying or changing the locks immediately when you move to a new home
• Never ignoring a knock at the door

Other steps you can take:

• Complete a “Know Your Neighbour” card
• Participate in the “Home Security Challenge”
• Register for “Operation Identification” (for homeowners) or “Operation Provident” (for businesses)
• Requesting a presentation or a security audit of your premise
• Join a Neighbourhood Watch
• Submit a Crimestoppers tip
• Crime mapping (interactive on-line program providing current, snapshot information on criminal activities within a neighbourhood)

Members of our community play a very important role in preventing crime. The Peel Regional Police encourage you to become an engaged member of your community and together help make our vision of “a safer community” a reality for everyone.