Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in North Bay-area are reminding people to safeguard their property and are offering tips to make your home a harder target.
Increase in property thefts in the region
“North Bay OPP have received calls reporting suspicious persons, thefts from property and thefts from insecure vehicles,” police said in a social media post last week.
“OPP remind the public to safeguard your property (and to) lock it or lose it.”
Last month, on the evening of July 28, 2024, police received a call of a suspicious person on Greenwood Drive in Bonfield, Ont.
The OPP investigation into the incident found a yellow gas-powered pressure washer was stolen and a vehicle was entered, according to a separate social media post.
Police have released video surveillance (shown above) of the suspect in the incident and are asking anyone with information related to the incident or who can identify the suspect shown to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Residential property thefts
According to the OPP SafeGuard Ontario Property Security Program, seven of 10, break-and-enters are residential – including detached sheds and garages.
SafeGuard Ontario is a community-based crime prevention program developed to help citizens “lock criminals out of house and home.”
The program provided the following tips to safeguard your home:
- Make sure all outdoor lights work and use timers
- Limit privacy fencing only to areas you require it
- Use deadbolt locks on all access doors
- Don’t advertise new purchases like electronics
- Don't leave keys at the front door where they are expected
- If possible, engrave valuables, making them harder for criminals to sell
- When away, have someone pick up your mail
- Do not advertise when not home including on public social media platforms
Vehicle thefts
Provincial police are also seeing an uptick in vehicle theft and thefts from vehicles.
“Lock it or lose it,” police said.
OPP said to protect your vehicle from theft;
Always:
- Roll up your windows, lock doors and pocket keys
- If you have a garage, use it, lock the vehicle and garage door
- Keep vehicle documentation with you, not left in the vehicle
Never:
- Leave your vehicle unattended while it is running
- Leave your car keys in plain view or an easily accessible area in the vehicle
- Leave valuables in full view – put them in the trunk
Police said we can keep the community safe by working together.
