Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a proven crime prevention approach which has been shown to reduce opportunities for crime and incivility. The fundamental idea of CPTED (pronounced CEP-TED) is that it is possible to use knowledge and creativity to design environments in ways that lessen or prevent the incidence of crime.

The application of CPTED principles to your home and suburb can dramatically reduce opportunities for offences. Simple CPTED strategies such as trimming foliage, utilising sensor lights, making house numbers clearly visible and keeping your premises maintained are just some of the tips which are likely to reduce the risks to yourproperty.

For further information on how you can apply CPTED to your home environment contact your local District Crime Prevention Coordinator or visit the Queensland Police Service CPTED website at: www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/crimeprevention/cpted.htm

Scams

A scam is a crime involving trickery or deception to obtain benefit. Scams target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels across Australia. There is no one group of people more likely than another to become a victim of a scam. If you think you are ‘too clever’ to fall for a scam, you may take risks that scammers can take advantage of.

Unscrupulous operators can target consumers, with the marketing of illegal schemes and scams. Some of the more common scams include:

• get rich quick schemes;
• miracle health products;
• competitions and lotteries;
• pyramid/referring selling/multi-level marketing;
• Nigerian loan/investment scams; and
• work-at-home schemes.

Unfortunately, many people in Australia are scammed every year. While it is very difficult to track down the person or group who has scammed you, there are some steps you can take straight away to reduce the damage. You may also be a target for a ‘follow-up’ scam, so you need to take action to stop the scammers succeeding again.

Scammers are not just after your money. Scams can also be designed to steal your personal details. The types of personal information that scammers might ask for include credit card and bank account details, passport details and name and address details. This is known as ‘identity theft’.

Scammers may try to give you something, such as a ‘free’ gift or assistance, to get something in return, such as your agreement later on. You may feel obliged to do something in response to this. Protect yourself from these sentiments by recognising the gifts and favours as nothing more than devices to influence you to return the favour.

Misleading or deceptive conduct or an act which is likely to mislead or deceive is likely to contravene section 52 of the Trade Practices Act. Contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission if you think you have been the subject of this type of conduct.

There is ample information available on the Internet in relation to scams currently marketed worldwide and the precautions to follow. The following links offer advice on spotting scams and methods to protect you from becoming a victim:

www.fido.asic.gov.au

www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/crimeprevention/ecrime/scams

www.scamwatch.gov.au

www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/8135

www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

To subscribe to weekly updates of scams, send an email to:
FairTradingUpdate@dtrft.qld.gov.au

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Fraud

Fraud is behaviour that is deceptive, dishonest, corrupt or unethical. For a fraud to exist there needs to be an offender, a victim and an absence of control or safeguards. Here in Queensland, the laws on fraud involve dishonesty in any of these situations:

• obtaining property belonging to someone else;
• applying someone else’s property to one’s own use;
• causing a detriment to another person or entity;
• gaining a benefit or advantage for any person; and
• inducing or causing any person to deliver property to another person.

Common frauds include using false:

• identities;
• cheques; and
• credit and EFTPOS cards.

If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact your local police station. For further information on types of fraud and how you can protect yourself, visit the Queensland Police Service Fraud website at: www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/crimeprevention/fraud/default.htm

Home Assist Secure

Home Assist Secure (HAS) was established by the Queensland Government in 1993 and now funds 41 services across Queensland. This community service is funded by the Queensland Department of Housing and is supported by the Queensland Police Service. The HAS service provides the following assistance:

The Home Checklist Book — Contains practical advice about common home maintenance problems and solutions, home safety, legal and consumer protection issues, and sources of further specialised information.

Security Hints for You and Your Home — Provides information on how to make your home more secure and increase your personal security. Subsidised assistance helps people who are unable to obtain alternative assistance with minor home and yard maintenance and repairs.

Home Security Assessments — Police-trained security assessors can inspect your home to help you decide on security-related repairs or installation of security hardware. They can also advise on personal safety issues. This service is only available in locations throughout the State where this program is operating.

To be eligible for free information and referral, you must be a home owner or live in any form of rental housing and be:

• 60 years or over; or
• of any age with a disability (or living with a family member who has a disability).

In addition to the above, to receive subsidised assistance for work in your home, you need to be:

• in receipt of a Commonwealth Government allowance or payment; and
• unable to make use of alternative forms of assistance, such as family or friends, Home and Community Care, Veterans Affairs or Department of Housing.

For further information contact HAS on 1800 642 902 or visit their website at: www.housing.qld.gov.au/programs/ch/support/has.htm