A guide designed to help Brampton residents protect their homes and prevent property crime is now available in four additional languages, making its advice accessible to more households across the city.
The City of Brampton’s Hello Neighbour: A Guide to Safer Homes and Community is now available in Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, in addition to English.
Developed in collaboration with Peel Regional Police, the guide takes a broader approach to crime prevention, emphasizing that safer neighbourhoods involve more than installing alarms, cameras and better locks.
It draws on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), a strategy that looks at how the physical appearance and layout of homes and neighbourhoods can discourage criminal activity.
Among its recommendations are keeping trees and shrubs trimmed to eliminate potential hiding places, installing motion-sensor lighting around entrances and walkways, ensuring house numbers are visible from the street and keeping garages, sheds and other entry points secured.
The guide also encourages residents to keep their properties tidy and well-maintained, noting that an occupied and cared-for home can discourage unwanted activity.
However, much of the advice extends beyond individual properties. Residents are encouraged to introduce themselves to neighbours, exchange contact information, organize community cleanups and consider starting neighbourhood social media groups to share information about suspicious activity.
The guide also outlines warning signs residents should watch for, including unfamiliar vehicles repeatedly driving through neighbourhoods, people attempting to enter properties without permission and individuals tampering with vehicles.
Anyone noticing suspicious activity is encouraged to contact Peel Regional Police. Residents should not confront suspicious individuals themselves.
The initiative is part of Brampton’s Community Safety Action Plan, which takes a prevention-first approach to improving neighbourhood safety and well-being.
Residents can download the guide in their preferred language through the city’s Community Safety and Well-Being website. The resource is intended for homeowners, tenants, property managers and community leaders.
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