In anticipation of the upcoming Easter holidays, the RCIPS is advising the public of certain steps that can be taken to protect themselves and their property if they are spending time camping over this long weekend.

Camping is an Easter tradition in Cayman, meaning that many people will leave their residences unoccupied for the entire weekend. Unfortunately, this can present opportunities for criminals who are also aware that these residences may be unoccupied.

1)      Be sure to properly lock and secure your premises before going camping.

2)      Be sure to leave lights on inside and outside the property to give the appearance of being home.  If you possess light timers, it is best to have these set up for this weekend.

3)      Consider storing valuable items within interior rooms in the residence, and locking these doors. This will make it harder for would-be thieves to access these items.

4)      Clear any shrubbery, tools and other such items from your yard, so as not to provide burglars with tools they can use to gain entry or conceal themselves from detection.

5)      If you have neighbours who will not be camping, consider asking them to keep an eye on your property for you. Alternatively if you have other family who are not camping, ask them to come by and check your property a few times over the weekend.

6)      If all else fails, you may want to consider doing a couple checks of the property yourself, even though this will mean leaving the campsite.

Of course, you should also take precautions for your personal safety when camping:

7)      Be sure to secure your belongings when camping. Do not leave valuable items lying around, especially where they can be viewed from outside the tent. Keep an eye on valuables at all times.

8)      Use the buddy system and have someone who knows where you are at all times.

9)      While camping, it is also important to follow all relevant laws. Stay off of private property and refrain from using any beach equipment which does not belong to you.

“We urge everyone to keep these tips in mind over the course of the weekend,” said Inspector Winsome Prendergast, who oversees the Eastern Districts. “Our officers will be out making checks of camp sites and residential areas, as we continue our focus on crime prevention and deterrence. We look forward to working together with the public to help make this a safe and fun Easter. The RCIPS wishes you and your families a happy holiday.”

In addition to camping, many persons choose to partake in water-based activities during the holidays. As such, the RCIPS/Customs Joint Marine Unit, along with the Cayman Islands Port Authority, has produced a PSA on water safety tips, which can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKJ1TIK3QOU