NORTHUMBERLAND — The Northumberland OPP is asking residents to be more vigilant as police track an increase of residential and commercial break-ins this month. Homeowners are asked to take that extra step to ensure all doors and windows are locked when there is no one home. If away for an extended period of time, make arrangements with neighbours to watch over your home and collect newspapers or mail to give the appearance that someone is home.
This includes having your snow cleared when the season arrives and possibly using your driveway to park a car. Timers for interior/exterior lights are also suggested. Business owners are encouraged to remove any money from the premises and consider posting a sign stating that there is no money on site after hours, invest in sound reliable locks and an alarm system, as well as video recording in the event of any suspicious activity.
All residents are encouraged to report any suspicious persons or vehicles in neighbourhoods to police. Thieves will commonly knock on a door prior to entering to ensure that no one is home, so if you experience a stranger at your door, police ask you to consider that this person might be there for this reason and call police. Visit http://opp.ca/index.php?id=115&lng=en&entryid=570bf1a58f94ac983906709c for more information on how to protect your home or business, and details on the Safeguard Ontario Property Security Program.