Neighbourhood Watch Crime Prevention Tips

Subject: CRIME PREVENTION TIPS
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2020 11:51:54 -0400
From: Darren Joseph <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Thefts from vehicles is a crime of opportunity that increases as the weather gets nicer. As many locations are currently closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, thefts and other crimes of opportunity may also increase. Please consider these tips to help to reduce the likelihood of it happening to you or to anyone in your community.

General Tips related to thefts from vehicles:

  • Try to park in a well lit area, with pedestrian traffic;
  • Remove items from your vehicle, I recommend removing not just the valuable items such as GPS, but also the loose change left in the console/anything visible. Individuals will break into your vehicle for a single pair of sunglasses;
  • Lock your doors, and keep the windows up
  • Don’t leave items that contain personal identification, vehicle registration or insurance certificates, or credit cards in your vehicle;
  • If you have a garage, use it. Lock your vehicle and the garage access points.
  • If you park in a driveway, along-side your home, consider installing motion sensor lighting, to draw ones attention to the area when it turns on;
  • Consider installing anti-theft devices.

Apartment Building Security Tips, As a Tenant:

  • You should always treat any entrance to your apartment building as if it were your own front door. Do not permit someone you don’t know to enter the building. If someone enters with you and you don’t recognize them, consider contacting the Superintendent/security;
  • Before “buzzing” someone into the building, verify if you recognize the voice before letting them in, ask yourself if you were expecting anyone, use any lobby surveillance to determine who the person is before allowing them access;
  • Never prop open external doors;
  • Be aware if someone follows you into the underground parking area, consider contacting Security or police if you don’t recognize them and feel they are up to no good;
  • Always check the area when entering/leaving the parking garage;
  • Check your vehicle before you get into it, and once you are inside, lock your doors;
  • Report burned out light bulbs and broken locks in and around the building/parking garage to the landlord/property manager.
  • Underground parking garages can give us a false sense of security. We all need to do our part. Tenants/owners need to wait until the garage door is closed before leaving or entering the garage.

HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT CALL:

9-1-1 – Crime in Progress/Life Threatening Emergency
613-236-1222 ext. 7502 – Non Emergency, but require police to attend
613-236-1222 ext 7300 – To report over the phone
https://www.ottawapolice.ca/ – online reporting tool for the following incidents:

  • Theft (excluding theft of passports)
  • Lost Property (with a visible serial number or distinct marking such as a custom engraving)
  • Mischief/Damage to Property
  • Theft from Vehicle
  • Traffic Complaints
  • Drug Complaints
  • Fraud Complaints
  • Hate-Motivated Incidents
  • Add information to an existing report

3-1-1 – Non-compliance of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act ie: gatherings of over 5 people, usage of parks, playgrounds, non-essential businesses that are open, etc.
https://crimestoppers.ca/ or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) – to anonymously report crime.
MOST IMPORTANTLY – IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Lets help prevent crime.

Thank you,
Cst Stephanie Lemieux
Centretown Community Police Officer
Ottawa Police Service
Ph: 613-236-1222 ext. 5287
Email: lemieuxs@ottawapolice.ca