Increased thefts and break-ins in Steinbach, security experts explain how to not be the next victim – SteinbachOnline.com

There has been a dramatic increase in thefts in recent months.

Steinbach Security Services President Brian Brunelle suspects this is due to rising food and fuel costs.

He says it’s extremely important to always keep the door locked and only open the door to people you know.

“The most important advice I can offer as a former police officer and security professional with almost 30 years of experience: don’t open your door to people you don’t know.”

In addition to the increase in theft, burglaries are also becoming more frequent.

“I’ve even heard stories from my own family members where they actually saw someone try to get in through the front door of someone’s house early in the afternoon and ring the doorbell,” he says. “And eventually the police came down and arrested this person.”

He warns people to be aware that theft can happen at any time, even in broad daylight.

“The times have changed. We have to be more careful. We have to be more vigilant.”

Brunelle says one should be careful around people under the influence of drugs because they are not in the right frame of mind. Don’t risk hurting someone or face your life with it.

Instead, you should call 911 and let the police handle the situation. Putting yourself at risk for your property is the worst thing you can do.

“Don’t confront people, it’s just not worth it. Property is property, it can be replaced.”

Brunelle notes that communicating with your neighbors is a great way to stay alert and alert.

It’s a good idea to get your neighbors’ cell and landline numbers and keep in touch if there’s any suspicious activity.

“Don’t just watch your garden, watch theirs too. If someone breaks into your neighbor’s property, there’s a very good chance they’ll break into your property.”

It’s important to communicate with your neighbors and agree to call each other if you feel something is wrong.

“When someone sees something suspicious and thinks something is going wrong, their sensitive senses tingle that that person probably shouldn’t be there.”

He gives a list of tips on how to make your garden and house less attractive to steal.

First and foremost, it is important to keep all doors locked at all times, day and night. This means your home, vehicle, garage, shed, and anything else you can think of.

Additionally, if you have a garage, keep your vehicles parked in your garage to prevent fuel theft and burglaries, or at least remove your garage door openers from your vehicles.

“Garage door openers should be removed from your vehicle, especially if you park your vehicle outside at night,” he says. “This gives thieves access to your garage and potentially your home if you leave these remote controls in your vehicle.”

He also says you should keep expensive items like bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, and lawn mowers out of your yard and in your garage or shed.

“It’s like leaving cash out in plain sight.”

Another tip is to light up dark areas well at night. Motion detectors should be out of reach and checked regularly for functionality.

“If you have trees and shrubs that are near entrances to your home, garage or shed, cut them back. Do not provide easy access to brake in the dark.”

He also says many people don’t realize that most outdoor security cameras freeze. They often stop working at temperatures below -25°C.

If you use outdoor security cameras, he suggests buying ones that have a thermal option, are high-definition, and can record at night.

“Probably the best cameras in my opinion are the doorbell cameras, which work very well to cover the area in front of the residence.”

Stephen Rooke, owner of S&S Security Systems, states that the most common type of theft is spontaneous or unplanned theft.

When thieves see something in sight, they are more likely to impulsively steal from that property.

“You’ll have people riding bikes or walking down side streets and they’ll come across something that looks appealing and they’ll take it,” he says. “Historically, thieves tend to be kind of lazy. You know, if it’s easy to grab, they take it. If it becomes way too much work, they won’t do it.”

He also says motion lighting can scare thieves and deter them from entering. You can also get a wireless motion detector to put in your shed or yard and it will alert you in your house when someone enters the shed.

Rooke says a lot of people have their sheds broken into, and a lot of those sheds aren’t locked.

“Make sure your shed is locked, and if your yard has a fence around it, make sure your gate is locked so they can’t just throw the latch and go in.”