It has long been said that it takes 21 days to break a habit and 21 days to make a habit.
And Dauphin deputy city manager Lisa Gaudet is hoping to help city residents form a new habit through a 9 PM Routine campaign meant to involve the entire community in the fight against property crime.
The campaign will feature nightly email reminders to secure property by removing valuables from vehicles, locking vehicle doors, locking all exterior doors and turning on an outside light.
“There’s a lot of chatter on social media about crime. It’s a hot topic and people are feeling unsettled about the mischief kind of crime, where people are getting into their vehicles and sheds and yards,” Gaudet said. “So this is a positive message that brings us all together collectively and people can be a part of something where they feel like they’re making a difference in a small way. It’s a message of empowering people to take action even though it’s small steps. If we do it collectively, people can take action to prevent crime.”
The idea was first developed by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Florida in 2017. Since then it has been adopted by police forces and municipalities across North America, Gaudet said.
“It recognizes that crimes against property are often crimes of opportunity. So a potential thief will happen upon an unlocked car with keys or a wallet on the seat and they’re more likely to open the car door and take what’s inside,” she said, adding if people can develop a habit of locking up vehicles, sheds and houses, removing valuables from the yard and vehicles and turning on an outside light every night the community will be far safer.
“We’re trying to just instill this habit.”
As part of the campaign, Dauphin RCMP detachment members will be conducting foot patrols through city neighbourhoods. If they see a car door unlocked or something that’s unsecured on a property they will leave a card pointing out the problem.
“That fosters that connectivity that people want. I think people are feeling lost and they’re saying ‘is anyone listening? Does anyone hear us? We’re not feeling safe in our neighbourhoods’,” Gaudet said. “And this is the way to promote that connectivity where they can see the RCMP were here, they are checking on things. I think there is a sense of security in that.”
To encourage participation in the campaign, Gaudet has arranged for some prizes consisting of $25 in Chamberbucks. Those who complete the routine each night will be encouraged to post a check mark in the comments and share the post with their friends.
“For the people who have engaged the most with our social media posts and that way we get the message out further,” Gaudet said. “The more engagement with our posts, the better your chance to win one of our $25 Chamberbucks prizes.”
Gaudet is in the process of contacting community organizations and other stakeholders, encouraging them to get involved by forwarding the posts on their websites and social media accounts to encourage as much engagement with the campaign as possible.
The more people taking part, the better off the community will be in the long run, she added.
“I noticed posts on social media where people would say, ‘is the city aware that this is happening, that people are breaking into my shed’,” Gaudet said. “We are aware. We are very much aware, but there was a gap in the messaging where there was no connectivity between the city and the residents. So I think this is (connecting) and it’s fun.”
Starting this week the email reminders with tips, hints and graphics will be distributed just before 9 p.m. each night.
“If there’s good uptake on it I might continue and do more of them, but hopefully people will develop a habit,” Gaudet said. “I think for the most part it’s a positive message that the community needs right now to really pull us all together.”
