Pictured L-R: Blue Dolphin Resort manager Andrew Parr, Bev Mansfield, Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis, Warren Rackham, Brian Haselum and Clarence Valley Mayor Jim Simmons. Image: Lynne Mowbray.

The NSW Government has awarded $50,000 to Clarence Valley Shire Council for a program to reduce break-ins to homes in Yamba and Maclean over summer, Clarence MP, Chris Gulaptis has announced. The funding is part of the government’s $500,000 Safer Community Compact grants to help councils across the state to deliver grassroots solutions to crime. “The program recognises local people understand the crime problems facing their towns and play an important role in addressing them,” Mr Gulaptis said. “The ‘Look, Lock, Leave’ project in the Clarence Valley will help residents and tourists in break-and-enter hot spots to take steps to reduce the risk of their homes, tents and caravans being targeted by burglars,” Gulaptis said. Council will run a home security public awareness campaign in the lead up to the summer holiday months and will work with police to establish six pop-up information booths to help residents make their neighbourhoods safer. “Council and police will also provide victims of recent break and enters with information on ways to prevent burglaries from happening in the future,” Mr Gulaptis said. “The ‘Look, Lock, Leave’ initiative will enable the sharing of ideas on how residents can protect their home, including the use of engraving tools to mark valuables so they can be easily identified and less attractive to thieves.” Mr Gulaptis said there were a variety of simple ways to deter burglars. “Burglars are typically looking for properties that are unattended and easy to access so if you are going on holiday it is vital you remove any obvious clues that no one is home. It’s also important for neighbours to be on the lookout for each other and to report any suspicious activity to the police.” Clarence Valley mayor, Jim Simmons, said statistics showed the most effective way for people to reduce the risk of a break in or property loss is to remember to lock your doors and windows when you leave your home, holiday house or campsite. “It’s hoped that this campaign will refresh people’s memories and prompt them to take a moment to review their home security,” he said.