Securing Your Acreage

Less congestion, open spaces and peace and quiet. Those are some of the reasons we all chose to live in Springbank. However, as Calgary creeps closer, there is more congestion, fewer open spaces, and less peace and quiet. The proximity of Calgary also brings the potential of crime to our community. We have to start taking all the security precautions of Calgary residents plus a few others due to the uniqueness of our community. Springbank acreages tend to be isolated from neighbors yet close to major roadways making them vulnerable to crime.

In securing our acreage, the key is to reduce opportunity. Let’s start with the basics. Get in the habit of locking all of your doors and keeping the garage door closed. Secure the windows you’ve been crawling through for years when a key is forgotten. And trim bushes and trees around your house to eliminate hiding places and make your house more visible to neighbors. Don’t forget to lock up your shed! The ladder and tools inside it can used to break into your house.

Thieves hate lights. Install several in strategic locations around the property. Use motion detection sensors on the lights or photocells that turn lights on when it gets dark and off at first light. If that doesn’t sound very ‘green’, there are a number of solar alternatives available.

Gates on your driveway are an excellent deterrent. Manual gates are cumbersome and have a tendency to be left open except when you are away for a long period of time – a signal you don’t want to send. Automatic gates can be opened and closed from your vehicle or residence and are a great way to restrict access to your property. No one gets in unless they are ‘buzzed in’ by you!

If the logistics of your property make gates impractical, wireless lane announcement systems can be used. They don’t prevent entry but do provide notification if anyone drives down your lane. Sensors can be set to detect only large metal objects if you’re worried about deer constantly setting them off.

Home security systems, once a rarity in rural homes, are becoming more common. Consider hiring a guard service to answer your home alarm should it be set off. The guard service will know where your place is and be able to respond promptly to your alarm.

The final and most important point is to work with your neighbors to prevent crime. Keep an eye on each other’s property and learn to recognize the ebb and flow of your neighborhood. Take note of vehicles you haven’t seen before and report suspicious activity to the RCMP. Alberta Rural Crime Watch is a great resource for crime prevention strategies and their implementation. Find out if a branch is operating in your area and if there isn’t, start one!

Written by: Rod Pertson