As the main tourist season approaches, we thought it may be a good time to update you on crime prevention measures taking place in Kalkan.

In this article, we direct you to some useful advice from the KTLN Emergency Advice section, which may help you avoid becoming a victim of crime.

We also let you know what to do if the worst happens.

But first, some context. Kalkan remains a safe place to live and to visit. But in common with lots of other places, there is property theft - mostly burglaries.

So it is important to take sensible steps to protect you, your family and your possessions.

Articles from KTLN
The following link provides tips on home security. It has been updated for 2011. KTLN - Home Security

The next link tells you what to do in an emergency situation, if you have had property stolen, and it contains advice on how to avoid getting into that situation, in the first place. Theft, Robbery & Loss of Property

And finally, this link gives you information about the Kalkan Jandarma Emergency ID Number Scheme, which is designed to speed up response times, if you need to call the Jandarma out to your property in Kalkan.  We have used this scheme.  It works!

Suspicious behaviour
The Jandarma wants you to report suspicious behaviour. By doing so, you may prevent a crime. If you report something and it turns out to be quite innocent, there is no harm done, and you will not be in trouble. The message from the Jandarma is: if in doubt, call them on 0242 844 3005. They do have English speaking officers.

Within the last week, from the first floor balcony of KTLN HQ, we spotted two young men behaving suspiciously, across the road. They parked up their car, got out and walked on to a piece of land behind an apartment block.

They spent a few minutes looking at the building, pointing and chatting. Then they got back into their car, where they chatted for a few minutes more.

By this time, I had grabbed my camera, and I took a few photos. As they drove away, I called the Jandarma, and gave them the registration number, and a description of the car. They went looking for the car, but could not find it.

Within 10 minutes, the Jandarma called at KTLN HQ, and I gave them the photos. They are following this up. They know where the car owner lives.

Why did I do all that? Well, on that occasion, it wasn't my house being checked out, but next time it might be. And how would I have felt if I had done nothing, then learned that a few days later, the property had been burgled?

Here at KTLN, we believe that we all have a responsibility to look out for each other, and we strongly urge you to report suspicious behaviour to the Jandarma.

Jandarma patrols
Jandarma officers routinely patrol all areas of Kalkan, both on foot and in vehicles. You may recall that it was thanks to one of these patrols that the family of burglars from Fethiye was caught. So not only are patrols reassuring - they actually work.

Security CCTV cameras
The Jandarma believes that the installation of CCTV cameras in and around Kalkan will deter some criminals, and help to detect those who commit crime.

A state of the art CCTV system has been demonstrated locally, and a project is underway to bring 13 CCTV cameras to Kalkan, at a cost of 200,000TL, (about £80,000).

The cameras have powerful zoom capabilities, can be controlled remotely, are equipped with night vision, and have excellent image quality.

These cameras are far superior to the ones installed a few years ago, in the disappointing, abortive attempt to bring CCTV security to Kalkan.

Fortunately, as Kalkan is a tourist area, it can benefit from a government grant, which will cover 75% of the cost. But that still leaves a sum of 50,000TL, (£20,000), that needs to be found locally.