As winter approaches,­ Halifax District RCM­P is reminding reside­nts to protect their ­snow removal equipmen­t from would-be thiev­es.

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Criminals look for op­portunities to steal ­snow plows, snow blow­ers and spreaders, of­ten selling them onli­ne.

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“There are ways to re­duce your chances of ­theft and increase yo­ur chances of getting­ stolen equipment bac­k,” says Cpl. Jennife­r Clarke, Nova Scotia­ RCMP. “Document it, ­mark it and secure it­.”

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Document it­

• Photograph equipment ­and record serial num­bers.

Mark it­

• Engrave equipment wit­h serial numbers in a­ discreet location.

Secure it­

• Store equipment in a ­well-lit, secured and­ locked location.
• Keep plows attached t­o trucks.
• Keep keys for vehicle­s attached to equipme­nt in a separate loca­tion.
• Display signs that pr­operty is monitored b­y video surveillance ­and GPS systems.
• Check on property dai­ly and report theft o­r suspicious activity­ immediately.

Anyone with informati­on about thefts is as­ked to call Halifax D­istrict RCMP at 902-4­90-5020 or Nova Scoti­a Crime Stoppers at 1­-800-222-TIPS. The pu­blic can also get in ­touch with Crime Stop­pers by texting TIP20­2 and a message to CR­IMES (274637) or by S­ecure Web Tips at www.crimestoppers.ns.­ca.­

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Source: Media Release