July 22nd, 2010 | 
Author: An annual neighbourhood watch campaign for local residents has got under way in the Dordogne, Sud Ouest reports.
Opération tranquillité, which translates as ‘operation peace of mind’, allows residents to go away on holiday safe in the knowledge that their homes are under the watchful eye of the local police service.
Residents can advise the local police when they plan to go on holiday, so that police officers can drop by regularly and make sure that everything is in order. Neighbouring residents are also asked to tell the police if they notice anything suspicious happening around their neighbours’ home.
French people place a great deal of importance on their summer holidays, and often go away for the whole month of August. The empty streets and quiet neighbourhoods around this time of year leads to an increase in burglaries, which is why many French residents are fearful of leaving their homes unattended.
Neighbours alone cannot be relied on to keep watch, as they too are more than likely to be on holiday at the same time. This is one of the main reasons why opération tranquillité has proved to be so popular. It is also very easy for residents to register with the scheme; all they need to do is go to their local police station and fill out a form indicating the dates that their home will be empty.
Despite the success of the scheme, the Dordogne’s local council advises local residents to make sure their property is as secure as possible before going away. Their advice includes locking all windows and shutters, and asking a friend or neighbour to empty letter boxes regularly to prevent mail from being stolen.
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