Public Safety Alert, Recent series of residential Break-and-Enters (May 5, 2015)
Public Safety Alert,
Recent series of residential Break-and-Enters,
Safety advice provided
The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of a series of 58 recent daytime Break-and-Enters over the past six weeks in the northwest part of 42 Division.
The suspects have been targeting homes where the front of the residence is either concealed or obstructed by overgrown bushes, hedges, trees or glass-enclosed vestibules.
In several of these break-ins, investigation has revealed that the suspects had been acting as door-to-door solicitors or canvassing in an attempt to avoid suspicion or detection.
Also, in some of these Break-and-Enters, residents were home at the time of the offence and confronted the suspects. The residents then called other family members first, or waited a significant amount of time before calling the police, resulting in long delays in reporting these entries.
Officers from 42 Division are seeking public assistance reporting suspicious person(s) and behavior in their neighborhoods.
One of the most effective tools the police have for fighting and preventing crime is the people of our community. You know who lives and works in your area plus who doesn’t appear to belong or is acting suspicious.
What makes a person a suspicious person?
• knocking on your door and asking for a random name or address
• walking along the street and checking out properties
• looking into cars and walking onto personal property of others
• door-to-door solicitors who don’t have proper identification/literature or knowledge of the product(s) or service(s) that they are supposedly soliciting.(e.g. lawn care and not being able to provide a price list or quote of services offered)
• person(s) found on private property, in areas that are not normally accessible to members of the public. (e.g. in a backyard behind a gate/fence or secured garages)
What to do if you see a suspicious person?
• observe the person’s movements and direction of travel
• obtain the best detailed description of the suspicious person(s)
• do not count on others to call the police
• report suspicious people or vehicles on your street or neighbourhood to police at 416-808-2222
• if you witness, or are the victim of, a Break-and-Enter in progress, call 9-1-1 immediately
How to increase your personal and home security
• if a stranger comes to your door, do not let him or her in and always ask for identification.
• have monitored alarm and video surveillance systems installed.
• keep list of serial numbers for home electronics.
• don’t keep large amounts of jewellery or money at home, use a secured safe
• make sure your front door is clearly visible to pedestrian traffic If shielded by overgrown shrubbery, cut, trim or remove any overgrown shrubbery or trees.
• lighting can be a great security measure. Consider installing lights controlled by timer or motion detectors.
• make certain that ladders, ropes or any other tool that would make it easier for someone to gain entry into your home are locked securely away
• remove any garbage or recycling containers from the bottom of driveways
If you see someone doing something you know is illegal, or locate an unauthorized person in a secure area, call police right away. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can get to you, and the better our chances of locating the person you saw.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
