It is important to protect yourself and property from harm. Here are some tips and tricks to help you with this. 

Auto Theft Prevention

#9PMRoutineAcross Peel Region and the Greater Toronto Area, there has been a rise in thefts targeting vehicles from residential driveways at night. To create public awareness and share tips and resources, we have launched a #9PMRoutine campaign to help keep your vehicle safe.



Be a part of the #9PMRoutine!

Follow these tips to keep your vehicle from being stolen:

  • Park your vehicle in the garage, if possible. Remember to lock your garage door. If you have a second vehicle, park it directly behind targeted ones.
  • Ensure your property is well lit.
  • Do not leave running vehicles unattended. Ensure you always lock car doors and roll up your windows.
  • Do not leave your keys by the front door; store them far away from your vehicle. Store keys in a FARADAY/RFID Blocking device when possible.
  • Invest in security cameras for outside your home. Use theft preventative devices (steering wheel lock, an automatic engine shut-off, and/or a tracking device). Install aftermarket products like a GPS trackers, remote vehicle shut off devices and on-board data port locks to prevent thieves from cloning keys.
  • Cover or block your vehicle identification number.
  • Avoid storing valuables or packages in open sight in your vehicles (place them out of sight or in the trunk).

Did you know?

Most vehicle thefts happen in:

  • Large remote parking lots
  • Shopping malls
  • GO train stations
  • Movie theatres
  • Airports
  • Residential driveways and unlocked garages

Protect your car by watching our helpful videos

• Tips on how to prevent auto-theft

• How do I protect my car?

Carjackings

Basic tips to reduce the opportunity of a carjacking:

  • Park in well-lit areas and near building access doors.
  • Ensure you practice good situational awareness and be hyperaware of your surroundings of any suspicious persons and/or vehicles following you or near you.
  • Reverse your vehicle into parking spaces. This gives you a great view of your surroundings and a safer exit.
  • Have your keys/fob ready when attending your vehicle.
  • Enter or exit the vehicle with a purpose.
  • Anytime you are in your vehicle whether you are driving, stopped or parked make sure your vehicle doors are locked. If possible keep your windows rolled up as well.
  • Don’t stop too close behind the vehicle in front as it may result in blocking you in.
  • Avoid driving alone whenever possible.
  • Don’t stop for stranded motorists. If desired call for assistance without exiting.
  • If involved in a motor vehicle collision be mindful of how many occupants are in the other vehicle and pull over in a well populated area. Some carjackers may initiate a collision to get you to exit your car.
  • Consider equipping your vehicle with anti-theft devices, dash cams and aftermarket GPS trackers.
  • In the event you are a victim of a carjacking, ensure you comply with any demands and don’t fight. Remain calm, do not make any sudden movements and articulate your actions to the carjacker.
  • Note as many physical descriptors of the suspects including, height, weight, gender, clothing, even speech/accents and other vehicles they may have arrived in. Contact Police as soon as possible and provide the last known direction of travel of the vehicle.

Follow Peel Crime Prevention Services on twitter @PRPCrimePrev and Peel Police @PeelPolice for future safety tips and information on future divisional information session opportunities.

Home Safety

On average, residents of Brampton and Mississauga experience seven residential break and enters each day. Residential break-ins are typically crimes of opportunity, burglars typically target certain property based on characteristics that will increase their chances of breaking-in without getting caught.

These characteristics include:

  • Corner lots.
  • Homes that back onto parks and other open spaces (these typically allow for greater access into the home).
  • Property that does not appear to be maintained or "lived-in".

 

How to Maintain a Safe Home
  • 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.

Safety Tips While Away on Vacation
  • 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.

Preventing Repeated Burglaries

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.  

Know Your Neighbours

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.

Residential Hi-Rise Security

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.

Alarm Response Policy

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

Operation Identification - Mark Your Property

Operation Identification is a program that will discourage the theft of valuables from your home and elsewhere. You can give the police an easy way to identify your belongings quickly.

Putting Operation Identification stickers on a home will help to keep criminals away because they know that marked items can be more easily identified by the owner.

Complete These two Steps to Participate:

  1. Mark your Driver's Licence number on all valuable property by engraving or permanently stenciling it on items (engraving tools can be obtained from Community Liaison Officers).
  2. Call your Community Liaison Officer to obtain your stickers.

For more information on Operation Identification, contact Crime Prevention Services.

Personal Safety

 

 

In Your Home:
  • Avoid opening the door to people you don't know. Learn to respond safely by speaking through a closed and locked door.
  • Draw all window drapes/shades at night.
  • Install good locks and use them often.

On the Street:
  • Plan your route and avoid short cuts through vacant lots or unlit areas.
  • Know where police stations and 24/7 stores are located.
  • Avoid being alone by getting a friend to accompany you.
  • If someone tries to take your purse/bag, do not resist. Instead, head to a safe location and immediately call the police. Defend yourself only in the event that you are being physically assaulted.

Distraction Theft:

Distraction thieves are skilled pick-pockets who use a variety of excuses to get close to your body and rob you of your valuables. They generally work in public spaces and often target the elderly, tourists and people who have visited a bank machine or are displaying valuables on their body. The thief will present themselves as a helpful, friendly person and may act as if they know you, or they may pretend they need your help.

  • Only carry cash or cards that you need. Keep your purse zipped and your wallet in your front pocket.
  • Be cautious of people who approach you in public spaces who are being overly friendly or speaking fast.

Don't allow strangers to get close to you or touch you.

Distracting senior while jewellery is stolen

In the Workplace:
  • Try to avoid empty stairways.
  • Call security if you see someone you don't recognize in the building.
  • At night, tell security when you are leaving and have them escort you if you feel unsafe.
  • If alone, contact your family/friend and let them know you are working late.

In Your Car:
  • Keep your vehicle in good condition with plenty of gas.
  • Carry an ice scraper and shovel during the winter months.
  • Park in well-lit areas.
  • Lock your car after getting in. Avoid lingering around in the parking lot. Drive away as soon as you can.

If you Think Someone is Following You:

Do not drive/walk home as you do not want this person to know where you live; instead, drive or walk to the nearest police station or open service station.

Protect Your Place of Worship

1. Install video surveillance.
Every business, school and place of worship should maintain a video system that monitors live or later.  Consider CCTV cameras that is capable of high-resolution image quality.  Not only does this help you keep eyes on the entire building during gatherings, it provides plenty of accountability for everyone in leadership.

2. Lock doors after services begin.
As a general rule of thumb and if you are able to, lock entrances five minutes after services begins and unlock when services ends. This prevents strangers from entering the building without anybody’s knowledge.

3. Keep a designated security team near entrances.
Since congregants often run late, security personnel should be at the doors to screen visitors before entering. Security does not necessarily need to be professionals, but make sure they are familiar with the building layout and know what to do in an emergency.

4. Discuss emergency procedures with the congregation.
The people within the place of worship also need to know how to respond to emergencies. Once or twice a year, conduct a meeting for going over emergency procedures. Explain where to go, what to do, whom to respond to, etc.

5. Implement lockdown drills.
Warn members ahead of time to limit unnecessary fear. Lockdown drills are a great practice for emergency response in a place of worship. Make sure everyone responds correctly and goes to the proper place. Contact the Peel Police Emergency Management coordinator regarding the Police Response Emergency Plan.

6. Alarm System.
Minimize the risk of unwarranted entry with the help of intrusion alarm systems. Consider installing panic buttons strategically throughout the building with immediate response by Police. 

7. Protective car barriers.
Adding decorative planters or other barriers on sidewalks or front entrances will not just add a little greenery to your landscape, but prevents a car from driving onto property and intentionally crashing into your building.

8. Interact.
If you do not recognize someone and they seem suspicious — say hello. Are they blowing you off? Are they genuinely interacting? That will give security personnel a good feel for the person and help you determine if they should intervene.

9. Limit access to children’s areas.
The only people who need to be present children areas are teachers, staff, children, and parents.

10. Security Guard.
Consider hiring extra security to secure the building and parking lot as well as to provide traffic control.

11.Cash Handling.
Ensure that money and/or donations are not kept onsite while the premise is unoccupied. Consider using electronic donation systems to eliminate any cash on site. Display signage at entrances to indicate that there is no cash kept on the premise.

Vulnerable Person Registry

The Vulnerable Person Registry is a service in Peel that allows caregivers of vulnerable people to submit information about the individual to a database. This information can then be used by emergency services during a crisis.

The Medic Alert Program can also be used to monitor and help vulnerable people.

A vulnerable person can be of any age, have a disability or may not speak English. They tend to wander and are unable to communicate their identity and residence.

Examples of vulnerable persons:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  • Alzheimer's Disease.
  • Mental health condition.
  • Acquired brain injury.

Use the online registry or visit a Peel Regional Police station to register someone.

While Travelling

 

 

Before Leaving for a Trip:
  • Use a travel advisory service to check if the area you plan to visit is tourist friendly.
  • Photocopy all travel documents, including passports and anything with your signature on it. Leave these items with a relative or friend for safe keeping.
  • Online: Don't post to social media telling people you're away. Post once you are home.

When Travelling by Car:
  • Use main roads.
  • Keep doors locked and windows rolled up.
  • Place valuables out of sight, in the trunk or take them with you.
  • If you need to stop, use well-lit, populated service stations or stores.

If You are Travelling Through an Airport:
  • Avoid putting jewelry or other valuables in checked baggage. Keep them on you or leave them at home.
  • Spread your money out in different bags, pockets and carry-ons to prevent losing everything in the event of stolen or lost luggage.

When Staying in a Hotel:
  • Keep doors and windows locked.
  • Don't allow hotel staff into your room without confirming who they are with the front desk.

Report lost keys immediately and consider switching rooms.

Crime Prevention Academy (General)

The Crime Prevention Academy is a program that is offered free of charge and available only to residents of the Region of Peel. Space is limited, on a first come first served basis.

This course helps you learn several safety tips that will help you to proactively prevent crime before it happens. Topics including when to call the police, home security, personal and travel safety.

We usually offer four sessions per year. Each session runs from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Emil V. Kolb Centre for those 18 years of age and over. 

Scheduled sessions can be viewed on our Learning Opportunities calendar. 

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