With all types of robberies, burglaries and thievery prominent right now, law enforcement services are encouraging the public to take a few simple steps to help protect their valuables when using public recreation facilities.
Leduc RCMP Cst. Julian Celms says one of the biggest tips for people to remember is to not make themselves an easier target by presenting thieves with an opportunity.
“Don’t bring them (valuables) in and lock them up,” said Celms. He adds when going swimming or to the gym or the Recreation Centre keep valuables to a bare minimum. Instead of bringing your entire wallet only bring a drivers license, enough cash to cover what you are doing and maybe a debit card.
If you do bring valuables with you lock them in a locker or keep them locked in a vehicle. “The root is opportunity,” said Celms. “It’s so frustrating, that little mistake … It’s about locking it up.”
“Don’t talk about how much cash you have on you in the locker room, don’t check your emails on your phone. Don’t draw attention to yourself,” he added.
If someone does become a victim of theft Celms says they should report the incident to both the facility and the police. Having as much information as possible will help to to track patterns.
“It’s a very difficult crime to catch because we don’t put cameras in change rooms for a reason,” said Celms.
He added it is the preventative measures taken before a crime that are even more important than the ones after when it comes to keeping valuables safe.