New Crimestoppers campaign reminds us to protect our homes before going away– and report any vacation break-ins to Crime Stoppers
Vancouver, BC (July 31, 2017) – It’s unsettling. Thieves are watching for homes left empty as many of us go away on summer vacation. Victims of burglary not only lose personal and sometime irreplaceable items, but the emotional jolt of having your property invaded is stressful and permanently shakes your sense of security.
With the peak of summer travel upon us, Crime Stoppers is launching a series of images on 20 digital billboards in Metro Vancouver, sponsored by Pattinson Outdoor, as part of its ongoing #WorldWithoutCrime campaign. The ads focus on protecting your property at home and away. (See attached backgrounders images of billboard campaign and safety tips to help prevent B&Es.)
Fortunately, B&Es are trending downward in Vancouver this year, but there were still 872 residential break-ins recorded in the City of Vancouver in the first six months of 2017.
Vancouver Police also note one in eight (13 per cent) burglaries show no sign of forced entry. The thief simply enters through a door or window left open on a hot day for instance, sometimes while people are still inside the house.
“If you see something out of the ordinary while your neighbours are away, call police or Crime Stoppers right away,” says Linda Annis, Executive Director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers (MVCS). “Many homeowners don’t realize they leave their homes vulnerable when they’re away, but there are steps you can take to help prevent a break-in.”
#WorldWithoutCrime Campaign
This province-wide Crime Stoppers campaign began in April and is reaching people through more than 500 billboards and bus shelters as well as washroom posters, digital advertising in restaurants and bars, public service announcements on radio and television, and on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Reporting to Crime Stoppers
Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers is not the police. Tips to Crime Stoppers can be provided by telephone or online through a secure server, texts, or free mobile apps. Tips from the public are passed on to authorities to investigate.
We don’t record phone calls, log IP addresses and we don’t need to know your name. Tipsters are provided with a code number and if their information results in a charge, arrest, the seizure of stolen property or illegal weapons, or the denial of a fraudulent insurance claim, a reward of up to $2,000 may be offered.
About Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers
Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers is a non-profit society and registered charity that receives anonymous tip information about criminal activity and provides it to investigators in the communities of Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. http://www.solvecrime.ca/