Prepare for happier holidays

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 16

Prepare for happier holidays

Nearly two years ago the Combined Lions Clubs and the police began the “Speak Up’’ campaign to emphasise to the community the part ordinary people can play in the prevention and detection of crime and criminals. Although the campaign was originally intended to run for six weeks, some aspects of it are continuing. “Speak Up” has many s uccesses to its credit; the campaign has not succeeded in reversing the trend towards increasing lawlessness in New Zealand. It was no coincidence that 12 months ago the Lions Clubs, as part of the campaign, made a special plea to people to take care about the security of tiieir possessions during the holiday period. Summer and holidays bring a more relaxed atmosphere that can only encourage theft from houses and cars. Many of these thefts are committed on impulse when an opportunity presents itself. Most of the precautions are simple and easily applied—if people show common sense. People planning holidays should take the precaution of stopping deliveries of milk and newspapers, of providing new locks and catches now to make doers and windows secure, and of advisiag neighbours and, perhaps, the local police, how long they will be away. An increasing number of thefts of vehicles, including boats on trailers, suggests that holiday equipment, including camping gear, firearms, and sporting equipment, also needs to be adequately secured at all

times, especially at crowded holiday resorts.

The security of all these possessions will be improved if people, generally, are on the alert for suspicious behaviour near unattended boats, vehicles or houses. The driver who has lost his car keys and is attempting to break into his own vehicle might sometimes be embarrassed if the police are called. But better a false alarm than another stolen vehicle. Nor should personal safety be overlooked in the short time remaining before the holidays. The dangers of drunk driving—and drivers —in the Christmas and New Year period can hardly be stressed too often. The less obvious dangers of vehicles which are mechanically unsafe can be avoided now by thorough mechanical checks while there is still time to remedy faults in brakes, steering, tyres, lights, and towing fixtures. Nor should safety on the water be forgotten. Most “boaties” will already be checking motors or rigging for summer cruising. Checks should also be made on pumps and fuel tanks. And the time to count and test life-jackets is well before the boat goes back in the water after the winter—not when squalls blow up, with too many people aboard, some miles off shore. Care in preparation for the holidays ought not to be regarded as a chore which detracts from summer relaxations: it should be a welcome and essential part of ensuring a happy holiday and a safe return to a secure home.