Crime Prevention Tips

Subjects

Business Security
Fraud
Auto Crime
Home Security
Personal Safety
Drugs & Alcohol Related

Business Security

Robbery Prevention And Safety Tips For Businesses

Keep your front doors and windows clear of signs and posters to allow good, two way visibility. Employees can see suspicious persons outside. Passers-by and police can see inside.
Keep the outside of your business well lit at night.
Make sure your cash register area is clearly visible to outside observers. Ensure cash register is secured to counter top.
Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum amount in your cash drawer and make regular drops into a safe.
Advertise outside that you keep a minimal amount of cash in the register and that you will not accept large bills.
Don't keep large bills under the cash drawer. If you don't have a safe, find a less obvious place to hide your extra cash until you go to the bank.
Use a safe that staff cannot open alone or that requires two keys. Post that fact conspicuously, including on the safe itself.
Use video camera surveillance and make it well known.
Always have at least two clerks working at night.
Vary your banking routine. Carry cash in a variety of ways - a lunch sack, attaché case, flight bag, pocket, etc. (money bags are very obvious)
Vary the times and routes that you use to go to the bank.
Make deposits as often as possible, never less than once a day.
Be alert for "customers" who seem to be loitering or glancing around the store while appearing to shop or browse through a magazine.
Watch for suspicious persons outside the business - especially in parked cars and around telephone booths.
If you see someone who is acting suspicious inside or outside, call the police to have them checked out.
Two persons should be on hand at opening and closing times.
Before closing, one person should check the office, back rooms and rest rooms to make sure no one is hiding inside.
Keep side and back doors locked. Have employees use the main entrance, if possible.

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Fraud

Tips for Giving

Beware of scammers

Statistics (2007) show that about 84% of Canadians (15 years or older)
make contributions to charitable and/or other non-profit organizations.
In 2007, it was estimated that $10 billion were donated.

Not just during Christmas holidays, but we must always be alert and make
wise decisions when we are making donations. Let's stay vigilant and
beware of scammers.

Remember also that unless you report scams and frauds, the police and
your fellow citizens will not become aware and there will be more victims
and criminals will keep on doing what they have been doing.

Following are some of the organizations/websites that are better known.
I am sure there are more resources available. These are all Canadian
contents.

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Canada Revenue Agency

Good Questions to ask when a canvasser comes to your door
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/dnrs/lrt/menu-eng.html
FAQ:
www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/dnrs/fq/menu-eng.html
Short Presentation:
www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/xi/rc306-k/pdf/rc306-4-e.pdf

Phonebusters

"Fraud - Recognize it. Report it. Stop it."
www.phonebusters.com/english/recognizeit_charities.html

Fraud Squad TV (many varieties of webcasts available)

www.fraudcast.com look for charitable donation program
Also available on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa61MOTwpSM

RECOL.ca (Reporting Economic Crime On Line)

Just as you see on their name. You can report online.

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Here are the TIPS Found in the Canada Revenue Agency Website
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/dnrs/lrt/1-eng.html
CRA recommends that you follow the tips below-before you donate.
Learn, confirm, and take action. Be an informed donor.

1) Confirm that a charity that claims to be registered with the CRA
is in fact registered. Consult the CRA Charities Listings or
call 1-800-267-2384.
2) Confirm that you will receive an official donation receipt
if you want to claim a tax credit. Tax receipts must meet specific
requirements: For more information, see Official donation receipts
3) Ask the charity what activities your donations will support.
Make sure you know who you are donating to. Sometimes fraudulent
charities use names that are similar to well-known /respected charities.
4) Beware of schemes that promise you tax savings greater than your cost,
thus allowing you to "profit" from donating to a registered charity.
For complete details, see the donor alert section.
5) Ask yourself: Am I satisfied that my donation will support the work
of a legitimate charity?
6) Write cheques payable to the charity, not an individual, or make sure
that your online payments are secure.
7) Refuse to donate if there is inappropriate pressure to give immediately
or if there are signs of fraud, such as being offered an official donation
receipt for more than you actually donate. You can report suspected fraud
to PhoneBusters, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, at: 1-888-495-8501.

Auto Crime

Myths and Realities of Vehicle Theft

Myth
I lock my car doors, which is enough to protect my car from getting stolen.

Reality
Although locking car doors is great common sense, that alone is not enough to protect your car from being stolen. Police agencies and ICBC recommend a layered approach to protection as the most practical way to make your vehicle tough to steal. For more information on auto-theft devices and tips go to http://www.icbc.com/crime-fraud/autocr_antith.asp.

Myth
“There is nothing I can do. If someone wants to steal my car, they will get it.”

Reality
Vehicle theft is preventable! By taking a few extra precautions to secure your vehicle, you can make it more difficult for a thief to steal. Research shows that thieves are looking for easy targets with little or no risks of being detected. If your vehicle is secured with several layers of protection and at least one visible theft deterrent device, thieves will most likely target a different vehicle.

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Home Security

SVCPC Home Security Pamphlet

Download the SVCPC Home Security Pamphlet (pdf).

Personal Safety

Crime Prevention / Personal Safety Tips by Cst. Longley, Business Liaison Officer VPD

Constable Anne Longley is a new Business Liaison Officer
at Vancouver Police Department. She writes articles in
a local newsletter. Below are three of the recent articles.

> How To Be a Good Witness
> ATM Safety Tips
> Safe Cycling in the City

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How to be a Good Witness
Constable Anne Longley, Business Liaison Officer
Vancouver Police Department

Have you ever witnessed something suspicious and wondered whether you should call the police? Many people are unsure when to call 911, when to call the non-emergency number, or whether to report it at all. Whatever the incident, the police and E-Comm staff are available 24-7, 365 days a year.

The 911 number is for police, fire or medical emergencies when immediate action is required, such as if life or property are in danger or if a crime is in progress. An in-progress crime can include fights & assaults, anything where a suspect is still at the scene, a report of an impaired driver, or a serious crime that has just happened even if the suspect has fled.

The non-emergency line is for situations where an immediate response of the police is not required. This includes things like reporting a crime with no suspect or with a time delay, as well as ongoing crime issues that are not in progress and noise complaints. If you are unsure how serious an incident is, call 911 and the call-taker will advise you whether you should be reporting it through the non-emergency number instead.

There's nothing more satisfying for the police than to catch a criminal in the act due to an alert person calling 911 and giving a great description of the situation and suspect. When your call is answered you will be asked specific questions in a priority sequence. Be prepared to answer questions relating to the five Ws: Where is this taking place? What is happening and is it happening now? How many are involved and are there any weapons? Who is involved - and what are their descriptions? Height, build, racial origin, hair colour, clothing colour and style, as well as any unique features, all help the police to identify the correct suspect(s). The same goes for vehicles, and getting the license plate and make, model and colour of the car assists us greatly. Stay on the phone with the call-taker until they advise you to hang up, and then wait for the police to come and see you. Write some notes down of what you saw while it's still fresh in your mind.

Although it's tempting at times to jump in and get involved if you see something going on, we always advise people to consider their safety first, and to call 911 immediately to alert the police. Being a good witness, while remaining safe and calm, is often the best assistance you can give us.

If an incident occurs at your work site, you must also notify your Security Department after the police have been called.

Vancouver Police Department Non Emergency #604-717-3321
E-Comm website for more information (visit www.ecomm911.ca)
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ATM Safety Tips
By Constable Anne Longley, Business Liaison Officer
Vancouver Police Department

In the hectic world of electronic convenience that we live in, have you ever wondered how you would cope if your ATM bank card was compromised, or what you would do if you no longer felt safe using ATMs?

Concerns about Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) arise for a couple of reasons. The first one has to do with physical safety and the area where the ATM machine is located. The second one has to do with illegal ATM card transactions, such as card skimming or card jamming.

There are some simple precautions to follow regarding your personal safety when using any ATM machine, whether at a bank, in the grocery store or a restaurant. Looking after yourself, your PIN and your card are the keys to protecting your security. Below are some common sense ideas when using an ATM machine:

• Look around you before you approach - does anything or anyone look suspicious? Is anyone watching you or standing too close?
• Use ATMs that you're familiar with and that are a trusted source such as a bank.
• Look over the machine before inserting your card. If you see anything that looks unfamiliar on the machine, it could be an external card reader or hidden camera used to compromise your card. If it looks suspicious, use another machine and report it to the service provider.
• Be sure to lock your doors and secure windows at drive-through ATMs. As soon as your transaction is complete, roll up your windows and move on.
• Have your card ready prior to approaching the ATM. This eliminates digging around in your purse or wallet and unnecessarily exposing your other cards or cash.
• Use ATMs that are well-lit and in a safe location. If someone follows you into a secure ATM location, turn around and leave without using the ATM.
• Get your cash out of sight. Any amount of cash can be tempting if it's out in the open.

The other concern with bank card safety revolves around techniques used to carry out ATM crime, such as card jamming, card skimming and card swapping, which are all done to compromise your account. Always be alert to what is happening with your card when performing a transaction, and watch your card when you hand it to a cashier. Often a consumer doesn't know their card has been compromised until they receive their bank statement and discover they're missing money and their card was used in places they've never been to. This can be particularly devastating if not discovered quickly, so another good idea is to check your bank account regularly, which can be done easily through on-line banking sites.

The best advice is to stay informed and aware of current trends involving ATM scams, and to contact your bank if you have any concerns. Millions of transactions are successfully carried out every day around the world without problems or interference by criminals or fraudsters, but you can do your part by being security-conscious and taking precautions whenever possible.

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Safe Cycling in the CityConstable Anne Longley,
Business Liaison Officer
Vancouver Police Department

With all the recent focus on cycling in the City and the new experimental bike lane on the Burrard Street Bridge, I thought it would be timely to write about basic cycling safety.

I've always enjoyed cycling and used to ride my bike to work before moving to the suburbs. However, even my good "road sense" and being a careful and courteous rider didn't prevent me from tangling with a car on one occasion. The unfortunate part of cycling is that no matter how careful you might be, a car driver may not be able to see you and may not be anticipating where you are. When it's a car versus a cyclist, the car will usually win and the cyclist will be hurt. Luckily for me I wasn't badly injured, with only a couple of cracked ribs and a bent bike.

The first thing to remember when cycling (after putting on your approved helmet, which is required by law) is that you must obey the rules of the road, just like all other vehicles. This means coming to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights, riding on the correct side of the road, and signaling when you're making a turn. Cyclists need to think and look well ahead in order to anticipate sudden changes in traffic or for vehicles turning at intersections. My collision was caused when a car in front of me suddenly pulled into a parallel parking spot without signaling (or backing in as he should have done), causing me to brake hard and then fly over the hood of his car. Not the kind of sudden stop I wanted!

The second thing to remember is to position yourself so that other road users can easily see you. If you're weaving in and out of traffic or riding in blind spots of drivers, they may not be able to see you. Cyclists on the road should be riding on the right hand side and in single file. If you are approaching other cyclists or pedestrians on a pathway from the rear, ring your bell in advance to alert them, and advise which side you'll be passing on.

The third thing to keep you safe should be the first thing you think about before you set out, and that's your safety gear. Wear brightly coloured clothing with reflective strips and/or a safety vest with reflective strips. Reflective clothing and reflective material on your bike will increase your visibility from dusk to dawn or in difficult weather conditions, such as rain or fog. As for helmets - love them or hate them, it's the law to wear one. Studies have shown that a helmet will greatly reduce your chances of a serious head injury in the event of a crash. If you are cycling after dark, you are also required by law to have a front white light visible for a minimum of 150 m and a rear red light that should be visible for a minimum of 100 m, as well as a red rear reflector. Without lights and reflective gear you're nearly invisible to drivers at night. You may see them, but they won't see you.

Cycling to work is a great way to reduce your carbon foot-print; it's economical, and it will also improve your fitness, but don't forget to follow the safety tips in order to arrive at your destination safely. Happy cycling!