Posted: August 6, 2013 — As part of its message to Night Out Against Crime community parties this evening, the Salt Lake City Police Department will challenge the public to play its role in reducing residential burglaries 25 percent over the coming year.

“After reviewing about 2,000 reported cases from June 2012 through May 2013, officers found that 25 percent of residential burglary victims lost property because it wasn’t secured properly,” Police Chief Chris Burbank said. “For the next year we will work to educate the public about small things they can do to have a big impact on this type of crime. Simply putting property away instead of leaving it on the lawn or leaning it against the garage reduces the opportunity for crime to occur,” he said.

The Night Out Challenge 2013 is supported by a new webpage with useful tips and resources for the general public. Visit police.slc.gov/NightOutChallenge2013 for:

• Burglary statistics
• Home security checklist
• Home inventory sheet
• Safety tips and other useful links
• Contact information for Community Intelligence Unit officers

“Safe neighborhoods are a hallmark of a Great American City, and they don’t become or stay safe by themselves,” said Mayor Ralph Becker, who joined the Chief to issue the Night Out Challenge 2013. “Take a few minutes to put that bike away at night, take your valuables in from your car, close and lock the garage instead of leaving it open while you run an errand — make these things a habit and you will help make your neighborhood safer.”

Night Out Against Crime is an annual event designed to increase public awareness of crime prevention, build bridges between law enforcement and the community, and send the message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized to fight back against crime.

Contact: Reporters seeking comment should contact the Public Information Officer at 801.799.NEWS (6397).

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