With opportunistic property crime continuing to affect towns and cities alike, police are encouraging people to take a few simple steps that can dramatically reduce the risk of becoming a victim of theft or burglary.
The advice comes at a time when crime trends are raising concerns well beyond South Australia. Earlier this week, reports from Queensland alleged that children believed to be younger than 10 years old were involved in an attempted break-in, highlighting just how unpredictable property crime has become. While such incidents remain uncommon, they serve as a reminder that offenders are increasingly exploiting any opportunity they can find.
Police say many break-ins are crimes of opportunity rather than careful planning. An unlocked door, an open garage, visible car keys or a window left unsecured can be all it takes for an offender to target a home or business.
For homeowners, police recommend:
- Lock all doors and windows, even if you're only leaving for a short time.
- Secure garages, sheds and side gates.
- Keep house keys, vehicle keys and garage remotes out of sight.
- Install sensor lighting, alarms or CCTV where practical.
- Avoid leaving valuables where they can be seen from outside.
Businesses are also encouraged to review their security by:
- Using a secure safe and removing cash from registers overnight.
- Ensuring all doors and windows have secure, functioning locks.
- Installing alarm systems and CCTV where possible.
- Maintaining good lighting around entrances and parking areas.
- Removing and securely storing business vehicle keys to help prevent vehicle theft.
While no security measure can completely eliminate crime, police say simple precautions can make a property a far less attractive target and often encourage offenders to move on.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway isn't that this advice was issued for one particular town. Every community—large or small—benefits when residents and business owners take a few minutes to review their own security arrangements.
If you notice suspicious behaviour around homes, businesses or vehicles, report it to police while it is occurring. Looking out for one another remains one of the most effective crime prevention tools any community has.
Crime Prevention Checklist
- 🔒 Lock doors, windows, sheds and garages.
- 🚗 Keep vehicle keys and garage remotes out of sight.
- 💡 Install sensor lighting where practical.
- 📷 Consider CCTV or alarm systems.
- 💰 Remove cash from tills overnight.
- 👀 Report suspicious activity promptly.