Dear neighbours,
It’s official … summer has finally arrived! Unfortunately, the warm weather also attracts the petty car thieves. The thieves are looking for unlocked car doors and will take cash and valuables, any available electronics, sunglasses, etc. They’ve even been known to take vehicles in which they found the keys for a short joy ride!
Here are a few safety tips of which we would like to remind you:
- First and foremost, check your car and home doors every evening to ensure they are locked!
- Please report any incidents of car theft to the Ottawa Police by calling 613-236-1222 ext. 7300. Reporting is important! The Ottawa Police keep a database of criminal activity, which they use to identify hot spots which is then used to determine how police patrol the city. Only reported crimes go in to the database. If we don't call the police, they cannot do their job and increase patrols to our area.
- If you witness a crime in progress, or, if you wake up to someone attempting to break into your house, call 911 immediately! Your safety and that of your neighbours is at stake.
- Also, if you know of any neighbours who are away for a few days/weeks, perhaps you could occasionally park your car in their driveway or put a garbage bin at the end of their driveway on garbage pick-up day to make it look like someone is home. Of course, picking up any flyers or papers in their mailboxes or on the front porch would also be useful.
Have a safe and fun summer!
Michael Francis
Director, Community Safety
Chapel Hill South Community Association