Welcome to CrimeReduction Canada’s web site. You may be wondering why Crime Reduction instead of one of the more common terms, Crime Prevention or Crime Proofing? I served as a police officer for 14 years, first with the RCMP, then with the York Regional Police and I’ve spent the last 3 years working closely with the Durham Regional Police in the area of Crime Prevention. In our society in Canada, it is impossible to prevent crime...that makes both crime prevention and crime proofing misnomers. If criminal(s) are determined to commit a crime and pick a specific target, they will attempt it. Even armoured cars, with armed guards get robbed. Does that mean there is nothing you can do to protect yourself?

Not at all. Generally speaking, criminals look for the greatest return with the least risk or effort. By making it more difficult for them to commit a crime against you or your property, you can greatly reduce the odds of you becoming a victim. Three elements are necessary for a crime to occur—there must be a target (the victim); an opportunity; and criminal desire. By using common sense and following our recommendations, target the criminal’s opportunity and you can reduce the odds that you will become a victim.

Documents dealing with protecting Commercial Premises; Home Security; Identity Theft; Personal Safety and Vehicle Security are available in pdf format. You will require Adobe Acrobat Reader (which is available free, from Adobe) in order to view the documents.

Crime reduction is an ongoing process and so is this web site. Check back from time to time, as we will continue to add more documents to the library. If there is a topic you would like to see covered, please contact us, we are very responsive to the public’s needs. Similarly, if you have a question concerning crime reduction, please contact us. Even if the answer to your query isn’t immediately available, we will research it and post the results.

The CrimeReduction Canada web site and its associated documents are provided to you for free, as a public service. We sell neither goods nor services and receive no funding from any government agency. This web site and the work that goes into preparing our documents is entirely funded by Google ads and the generosity of our sponsor. If your company is interested in become a sponsor of this web site, please see the Sponsors and Links page.

CrimeReduction Canada focuses on immediate steps you can take to protect yourself, your family and your property from crime. There is another aspect of crime reduction and improving your community that you should consider—volunteering. We have outlined several very worthwhile organizations below that you should consider. Click on any of their logos to be taken to their web site.

Another volunteer opportunity is available through your local police service. Many police services across Canada use civilian volunteers or auxiliary police to perform tasks not requiring a police officer...freeing up officers to perform investigative and enforcement duties. Contact your local police service for more information.

There are a great number of other civic organizations which perform a wealth of community improvement services. Volunteering or otherwise supporting any of these organizations can only improve the quality of life in your community.

For over 40 years, the Block Parent® Program has been helping to make our communities safer. Throughout Canada, the red and white Block Parent® sign is a symbol of a safe refuge where assistance is available. Police, government departments, educators, sponsors and volunteers support the Block Parent® goal of providing safer communities for children and other citizens.

A Block Parent® may be called upon to offer their home as a place of safety when someone is in a dangerous or frightening situation such as: bullied, lost, hurt or ill, caught in severe weather, frightened by a stranger. A Block Parent® assists persons in distress by telephoning the appropriate emergency service (police, fire, ambulance, etc.) when necessary.
Campus CrimeWatch is the community-based crime prevention program and organization for the faculty and staff of Universities and Colleges across Canada. Campus CrimeWatch is an innovative application of the highly successful Neighbourhood Watch program.

It is specifically tailored to meet the needs of university communities. Members of the campus community actively participate in this program primarily through the publication of an email newsletter, coupled with an email alert system that provides members updates on crime and safety concerns. Campus CrimeWatch is planned to launch at 10 campuses across Canada.
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada) is a non-profit, grassroots organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. At the heart of MADD Canada is our volunteers who include not only mothers, but fathers, friends, business professionals, experts in the anti-impaired driving field and concerned citizens who want to make a difference in the fight against impaired driving.

MADD Canada’s aim is to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, and to save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is a terrible crime that touches all of our lives and it is an irresponsible, dangerous and intolerable act.

Neighbourhood Watch provides a means of reducing the opportunity for crime to occur, through the active participation of citizens. Community members are taught how to make their homes less inviting for thieves, how to participate in Operation Identification, making their personal property less desirable to burglars, and how to be alert to suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods.

Very few people are in a position to protect their homes and property all of the time and the Neighbourhood Watch program can help to provide a sense of security for individuals or families who leave their homes for any length of time. The program also helps to co-ordinate the efforts of the police and the community in tracking down criminals.

Strong individual, community, and police involvement is what makes the program such a success because—together we can prevent crime!
Volunteer Canada is a central clearing house for volunteer activites in Canada. Volunteers are involved in virtually every aspect of society including health, education, social services, youth, sports and recreation, culture, the arts and the environment. Some volunteers give just one hour of time each week; others devote many hours. Volunteers are involved in one-time events as well as ongoing commitments. Some choose to volunteer out in the community whereas others are virtual volunteers and do their volunteering from the comfort of home. Volunteers can work on their own or with others, do hands-on work or volunteer at an administrative or leadership level.

The information published on CrimeReduction Canada is made available as a free, public service, and subject to the following Terms of Use:
We try our best to make sure that the information which we provide you is accurate and up to date. However, this web site does not guarantee the completeness and/or accuracy of any information published. As such, the user will assume all risks of verifying all information and/or materials used. We or any of our employees shall NOT BE LIABLE for any losses or damages which may occur through your use of any information or products which you obtain through our web site or any of our affiliated web sites. The information on this web site is simply set up as a public service.
This web site and its contents are copyright 2008, CrimeReduction Canada. No portion may be reproduced without the consent of CrimeReduction Canada.