Bernie Fandrich
At the most recent director’s meeting of the Lytton and District Chamber of Commerce, RCMP Constable Xavier Pilon attended and provided an update of some not-so-good things that have recently taken place in Lytton and area communities.
A number of establishments, vehicles, and private properties were broken into. Fortunately, a rash of break-and-enters like the recent ones don’t occur very often in Lytton.
Local RCMP investigated the occurrences, and Pilon recommended that the directors let the membership and community know about a simple, economical security measure that helps the RCMP deal with problems of this nature.
According to Pilon, one of the cheapest and most effective things that businesses and homes can do is install security cameras. Not only do they provide proof of who the vandal or thief was who broke into an establishment (thereby aiding the RCMP investigation), cameras also act as a deterrent, preventing thefts in many cases.
For only a few hundred dollars, cameras can be installed to monitor a business or residence. Many systems are wireless and connect to your smartphone, so you can monitor what’s going on in or around your home or establishment from anywhere in the world.
Daniel Mundall from Lytton Area Wireless pointed out that wireless security systems may conflict with wireless internet, so it’s best to check with your ISP before installing a wireless security unit if you are hooked to wireless internet.
Both wireless and wired surveillance systems are available from many retail outlets. Google “camera security system” and you will discover a host of options that are open to you. For example, Costco, Best Buy, and Amazon.ca each offer a good selection of systems.
Some home and business insurance companies reduce premiums if security systems are installed. Ask your insurer if this applies to your policy.