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Steps to secure your home: new checklist helps crime prevention

AS PART of Community Safety Month, the City of Fremantle and Office of Crime Prevention have designed an appraisal form to help people improve the security of their homes.

It’s a simple checklist that looks at everything from letterboxes, gates and garage doors through to smoke alarms, deadlocks and marking valuables.

Fremantle Mayor Peter Tagliaferri said police often became frustrated by home-owners who didn’t taken simple precautions, such as locking doors and windows.

“About 50 to 60 per cent of burglaries often occur in unlocked houses,” he said. “It’s an opportunistic crime but it’s so simple to make life difficult for burglars.

“That’s why we’ve introduced these security appraisal forms, so people can see where their homes may be lacking in terms of security.”

City of Fremantle CEO Graeme Mackenzie said the appraisal forms highlighted security aspects of homes that people may not have considered.

“Sometimes people do overlook certain things or just haven’t thought about areas of their homes that might be at risk,” he said.

“People need to be more vigilant to help police use their resources more effectively – it’s all about helping yourself in the first instance, so the police and other services can then assist in the best way possible.”

Community Safety and Ranger Coordinator Cameron Bartkowski said that while the security appraisal forms were designed as a self-help guide, residents can also book a community safety ranger on 9432 9905 to assist.

“Essentially, we want to help people with community safety and crime prevention wherever possible and this is simply another one of the city’s ongoing strategies to help achieve this,” he said.

Security appraisal forms can be downloaded from www.freofocus.com.au by clicking on council, then community safety. Alternatively, click HERE to download the form.

* For more information, contact Community Safety and Ranger Coordinator Cameron Bartkowski on 9432 9751.