Alberta RCMP are reminding residents to remember to secure their homes this summer

Police call it the "9PM Routine"

The 9PM Routine is like a checklist the involves habitually ensuring your property isn't a target for thieves.

According to K-Division Crime Prevention Liaison, Carolyn McTighe, this is an initiative that a lot of police agencies have adopted. "And it's something that the RCMP has been a big proponent of for many years."  

Property crime tends to rise when it's warm outside explained McTighe. "That's usually when we see an upswing of break and enters and stuff around properties."

In a news release the police agency pointed out that in July 2023, in Alberta RCMP jurisdictions, there were 2,798 reports of Theft Under $5,000.

To help prevent being a victim, the 9PM Routine offers suggestions for residents. 

"It's things as simple as making sure obviously that you're locking your doors at night. This is geared more sometimes to our rural property owners because they're a lot more trusting and they tend to leave things sometimes unlocked, said McTighe. 

"Even things like locking your garage or shed. And if you are utilizing things like standard padlocks that you're using ones that, preferably disc locks that are a little less able to be breached and broken into. Things like ensuring your yard tools are sored away safely. And when it comes to your vehicle, locking and securing it and putting all your keys away as well. The same goes for if you park inside your garage, a lot of times people will assume that if they're in a garage that their home is probably secure or their car is secure and the idea is that it's not, you still want to lock it even if it is in a secured garage."

"There's a lot of things that just are gentle reminders of things that I think are day to day, we kind of get into routines of maybe not paying attention to these things," added McTighe. 

She also suggested installing motion lights to deter thieves or an alarm.