The ACT has one of the lowest rates of property crime in the country – only 40,000 cases reported last year – but that figure is still too high, ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee believes, and he is determined to bring down that figure.

“We still need to do everything we can to reduce it so that we can make this type of offending more difficult,” D.C. Lee said.

Today, ACT Policing and the ACT Government launched a nine-week campaign, ‘Outsmart the Offender’, focusing on transport security, dwelling security, and community engagement. It is a $146,000 continuation of a campaign begun in 2019.

“This is a combined activity with the Canberra community to urge them to have a look at being safe at the home, ensure that you can be less attractive to those opportunistic thieves that sometimes wander around,” Mick Gentleman, ACT Minister for Police and Crime Prevention, said. “We’re challenging you to take some proactive activity around our house to make it less interesting.”

Web banners and videos on social media and the ACT Policing website will describe how to keep property safe. The campaign has three main messages:

1. Lock it or lose it: Secure vehicles and bicycles with good-quality locks and alarms.
2. Keep out a break-in: Lock doors and windows, even when at home. Consider installing security cameras or motion sensor lights.
3. Be engaged and crime-wise: Get to know your neighbours, watch out for each other, and report any concerns to the police, ACT Neighbourhood Watch, or Crime Stoppers ACT (call 1800 333 000, or report online to crimestoppersact.com.au).

“It’s incredibly important from our perspective that people do come forward to report these crimes so that we can actually take action,” D.C. Lee said.

“There may well be recidivist offenders across the ACT, but unless people come to us and report these types of crime, it makes it very difficult for us to take any action and ensure that the offenders who are responsible for these crimes are brought to justice.”

D.C. Lee said the police can make it more difficult for thieves by taking the following easy actions:

• Do not leave keys accessible inside your home, especially when you are away, and your car is in your driveway.
• Make sure your valuables are not visible within your car.
• Take records, photographs, serial numbers, and receipts of valuables so police can identify them and return them to you. (For instance, police arrested a burglar on the weekend, and recovered property stolen from several homes, which they will return.)

Most crime is opportunistic, Mr Gentleman explained.

“Normally, a criminal is looking for an easy way to make that theft, and as long as people are aware that it’s not their particular house that criminals are looking for, it’s just an opportune moment for them to get in, we can take some steps to make it more difficult for that criminal behaviour…”

Public transport and shops will run campaign ads, and the information will be translated into minority languages.

Angela Di Pauli, secretary of ACT Neighbourhood Watch, welcomed the initiative. “I think it’s excellent,” she said. “It enhances safety and security among members of the community.”