Home Safety

• Ensure that shrubs and hedges around your property are maintained to have clear lines of sight to all accessible windows and doors.
• Keep garage and screen doors locked, even while at home.
• Get to know your neighbours and join forces by looking out for each other's properties.
• Consider installing a second locking device for your windows and any sliding doors.

• Make sure to cancel newspapers.
• Do not advertise your travel plans on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
• Consider asking a friend or trusted neighbour to care for your house while you are away.

Victims of residential burglaries are more likely to be targeted again within the next month.

To reduce the likelihood of a second attack, address the factors that may have contributed to the crime by making positive changes in and around your home or business through environmental design.  

Keep your neighbourhood safe by working together with your neighbours. Advise them of any break-ins and arrange to watch out for each other's property.

Hi-rise residential communities provide a unique challenge in keeping you safe and your building secure. The size and vertical nature of the hi-rise environment makes it difficult for people to get to know their neighbours or develop a sense of community. However, hi-rise residential security is a shared responsibility.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Make the effort to get to know your neighbours and introduce yourself.
• Use the building's facilities (such as the laundry room) only during active times when other people are present, or use a buddy system.
• Only open an access-controlled or locked door at the lobby or garage for people that you know.
• Report suspicious strangers loitering around entrances to the superintendent.
• If you find a door that is propped open or not properly latched, close it.
• When waiting for the elevator, always stand off to the side of the elevator door and look inside the elevator before you get in. If you aren't comfortable with the occupants, don't go in.

When inside the elevator, stand near the control panel. If you are in danger, push all the floor buttons and the emergency button. Don't push the stop button as you may be trapped between floors.

Having an alarm system in your home can be a good form of security. However, it's important to protect against false alarms as there could be suspensions and cost.

• Cost Recovery: Your alarm monitoring company will be invoiced for every dispatched false alarm.
• Suspension: Peel Regional Police reserves the right to suspend and reinstate police response at their discretion. While under suspension false alarms may be subject to cost recovery fees.
• In the event of an emergency, contact 9-1-1 even if in suspended status. Police will attend actual emergency calls.
• Call the Alarm Program Unit.

Additional Information

• Alarm Response Policy
• Alarm Response Policy Fact Sheet Brochure
• Billing Appeal Request form - email the Alarm office for a copy of this form
• Reinstatement Request form - email the Alarm office for a copy of this form