Oshawa residents learn how landscaping and design can deter crime

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• Bobby Perritt-Moungaloa
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• May 24, 2013 – 4:30 AM
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Seminar offers security ideas

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Tips from Durham Police and SCOP

– Bars on windows can be a fire hazard if you need a quick escape — consider a storm window as an extra layer of glass that intruders would need to break — it creates a lot more noise for them

– Having a front porch promotes a lot more socializing and activity in the front of the house which deters potential intruders in the neighbourhood and makes you an extra set of surveillance eyes, while enjoying yourself

– Eavesdropping intruders could know you’re out of the house if a phone rings unanswered from inside — turn your phones down when you’re out or vacationing

– Hanging planters over house windows can make intruders feel turned off by having something to handle and possibly make more noise

– Lock sheds, especially if they have tools or ladders which could be used to gain access to the house

– Put front door lights and sensor lights up high so no one can touch the bulbs

OSHAWA — While tending to yards and landscaping this spring, residents can use techniques and make adjustments around their property to make their homes less enticing to criminals.

A City advisory committee, Safe City Oshawa Partnership and Durham police, offered the public information about crime prevention through landscaping and exterior design.

On May 7, a small team of people from the City, Durham Regional Police, SCOP and the community held a seminar at the Northview Community Centre on Beatrice Street to discuss what techniques people can use around their homes to be proactive about crime and unwanted behaviour.

The methods include eye-pleasing ideas such as the arrangement of gardens, lighting, benches and posts along with various adjustments around the property.

Oshawa Councillor Bob Chapman said most of the concern from the public concerned break-ins.

“There’s lots of interesting approaches you can use to keep people away from windows and doors,” said chairman of SCOP, Paul Dobbs of Oshawa.

The committee helps educate the public and prevent crime within the community.

Having air conditioners on the upper level of the house where they can’t be removed to gain entry inside, planting gardens under windows and putting bottles on the inside of window sills or planters in front of windows can act as obstacles.

“Offenders really like the path of least resistance,” said Dr. Hannah Scott, who teaches victimology and crime prevention through environmental design at UOIT.

She began examining crime prevention through landscaping and exterior design when she taught at the University of Memphis and was at the May 7 meeting in Oshawa, to share her advice.

“One of the most common things homeowners do (for security) is get cedar shrubs,” she said.

However, she and Mr. Dobbs said a common mistake is to build a high wall of them so that criminals are hidden from the public if they do find the chance to slip onto their property.

Keeping sight lines clear with smaller hedges and trees trimmed of low branches, along with sensor lights for night doesn’t allow opportunities for trespassers to hide on someone’s property.

Mr. Dobbs warned that homeowners should be cautious that technology such as sensor lights and alarm systems don’t go off too often, making them lose their element of alarm and urgency for homeowners and possibly their neighbours.

Crime prevention through landscaping and exterior design is also used by municipalities for public buildings, including the Oshawa courthouse where there are clear sight lines, special benches to prevent skateboarding, stone posts to block cars from rolling up to the building and comfortable spots to gather in groups so there are always plenty of eyes watching the area.

Residents can have an assessment done on their home by police by contacting Constable Hawrychuk of the crime prevention and community services unit at 905-579-1520 ext. 1775 or through e-mail at phawrychuk@drps.ca.

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