Police reminder: lock your cars, homes, sheds, churches and businesses

May 1, 2014 · 0 Comments

There have been numerous thefts and break & enters in both Orangeville and Shelburne over the past month. Break and enters included homes and Churches in the area. Shelburne police are also investigating recent incidents of thefts from unlocked vehicles.

Shelburne Police has arrested and charged six youth and adults since the beginning of this year in relation to property crime. These offenders are facing a total of 13 criminal charges. However, like in every community, property crime continues to occur and can have a negative effect on the individual victims, and the community as a whole.

The Shelburne Police are urging the public to take preventative steps to help reduce the incidents of property crime in the community.

Although it is not always the case, remember that most criminals victimize the easiest targets. These include locations that are well concealed by vegetation or fences, have little or no lighting, are unlocked, are easily accessible or insecure. Here are some suggestions: Vehicles: Always lock vehicles when not in use. Lock them day and night. Lock them in your driveway or in a public parking lot. Keep valuables out of sight including purses, cell phones, GPS units and jewelry. If possible park your vehicles in well-lit areas. Consider installing motion sensor lighting on your driveway. Outbuildings: Installing good quality pad locks and consider installing motion sensor lighting in the yard. Make sure padlocks are always locked – even when residents are home.

Homes: Use high quality, heavy duty locks and deadbolts. Keep doors and windows on all levels locked when not home and when asleep overnight. Consider installing motion sensor lighting all around the home and quality security alarm system. Home security video systems have come down in price significantly in recent years – they are wireless and easy to use.

Churches and Businesses: Use high quality, heavy duty locks and deadbolts. Double check every day when closing that every door and window has been locked and secured. Consider installing the following: • motion sensor lighting all around the building, • high quality, fully monitored security alarm systems • high quality security video systems with cameras that work well at night and cover every possible entry point, cash register and all valuables.

Contact police immediately: If you are a victim of property crime, no matter how significant or minor, call police immediately. If you see any suspicious cars or pedestrians, call police immediately. Too often the public waits until the next morning, or when they find out their neighbour was a victim of a crime before calling police. The sooner police are contacted, the best chance that potential criminals can be identified, the best chance crimes can be prevented, and even the best chance a crime will be solved.

“I have often heard victims say they didn’t want to bother us in the middle of the night, but we are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Help us be as effective as we can be by calling immediately – even if a crime did not happen, but somebody or something just seems suspicious or out of place,” states Constable Paul Neumann. “Our partnership and co-operation with the community is one of the key elements in solving and preventing crime”.

If anyone has any information in relation to this case or any other criminal activity, they are encouraged to contact the Shelburne Police Service at 519-925-3312 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com