Keep your seasonal properties secure this off-season

As the cold settles in and Albertans lock up their seasonal properties for the winter, the RCMP is providing tips to make sure they’re secure for the extended vacancy time.

Alberta Mounties say there have been 348 break and enters to seasonal properties and cottages so far this year, marking an eight per cent increase from 2023. They say these tend to increase in the off-season as there are less people around and less chance of being discovered quickly.

The following tips can help keep your property safe:

• Take home all valuables, including expensive tools and electronics, and properly lock up anything left behind. Consider posting signage that states all valuables have been removed.
• Put away any outdoor furniture.
• Make sure all doors, windows, gates, and outbuildings are secured.
• If you have a hunting property, always ensure that your firearms or any other hunting equipment is properly stored and secured, even inside a locked property.
• If storing off-highway vehicles, empty all gas from the tank and block the vehicle so it cannot be easily removed from the premise.
• Trim shrubs and trees to create clear sight lines.
• Install timers on interior lights to give the illusion the property isn’t vacant.
• Install exterior motion sensor lights at entrances, sheds, or outbuildings.
• Try to visit your property regularly, clear snow off paths to give the illusion of use, and inspect for any damages or thefts, so they can be reported in a timely manner.
• Install security cameras and an alarm system so you can monitor your property from a distance and deter thieves.