In regards to the letter about crime in Qualicum Beach (The News, Nov. 3) we, too, are smug as we look out on our peaceful street. 

Our neighbours are wonderful, the water sweet, the air so fresh one wonders why anyone would live in a city?

However, after living for over 20 years in a crime-riddled suburb of Toronto, the lessons we learned have not been forgotten and living in paradise hasn’t made us relax our habits. 

We lock our car at all times.  Our house is locked and our security system is on unless we’re working in the yard.  We don’t answer the doorbell unless we know someone is coming to visit.  We don’t care if it’s a nice little grey haired lady or a handsome landscaper or two guys in three piece suits.  Don’t know you? You don’t come in! 

We don’t have to hear rumours about break-ins. We read about them in the paper. 

The RCMP report local crime and ask for assistance which we will give if we know anything. 

It’s called Block Watch and believe me we take that responsibility seriously.  Professional thieves can pull up with a cube van in broad daylight in the best of neighbourhoods and clean out a house in 30 minutes, right down to the sports car and grandma’s silver. They’ve even been known to enter and leave a house with the owners present.

There’s no need to be afraid.  What’s needed is vigilance and the common sense to know something is wrong. If you see something not quite right, do not investigate yourself.  Call the ones who are trained for it.

Sure, crime is here.  Crime is everywhere. Use your head to make your home safer. Moving to a small town does not mean you can forget there is always someone out there to take advantage.

Chris Hayes

Qualicum Beach