(NORTH BAY, ON) – Members of the North Bay, Powassan and Mattawa Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have investigated numerous cottage break-ins over the past couple months.
On April 3, 2015, Powassan OPP investigated a cottage break-in on Victoria Lane, Clear Lake. Culprit(s) had injured themselves while gaining entry, as blood was located at the scene. Stolen was a new flat screen television and alcohol.
On April 25, 2015, Mattawa OPP investigated a break-in at a hunt camp located at Carpenter Lake, Papineau-Cameron Township. A red Honda 3000 IEU inverter generator, a dark green fibreglass canoe, generic binoculars and a Bushnell spotting scope were stolen.
On May 3, 2015, Powassan OPP investigated a break-in at a camp on Sand Lake Road, Patterson Township. A 3000 Honda generator with yellow Mastercraft battery pack, a new Stihl chainsaw and a Camo style game camera were stolen.
On May 8, 2015, North Bay OPP investigated a report of a break-in at a hunt camp on Holdridge Lake Road, Fell Township. Culprit(s) stole a Honda 300 inverter generator, two-five gallon Gerry cans and a new Yardworks garden rake and shovel.
On May 10, 2015, North Bay OPP investigated a break-in at a cottage on Ranger Road, Booth Lake. Culprit(s) gained entry and stole a custom pair of snowshoes, cooler, small gas can and a number of small tools.
Any person with information regarding the person(s) responsible for these break-ins should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at www.tipsubmit.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY FROM BREAK AND ENTERS
As cottage owners begin to open their cottages/camps for the season, more break-ins may be noticed. It is important for property owners to take a bit of extra time when leaving their cottages throughout the year to make their cottages as theft resistant as possible. Here are a few tips that may help:
• Take items of value home. If this is not possible, place them out of view or lock them in a secure room or cabinet. If valuable items are not visible through a window and are locked up, they are less likely to be taken.
• Do not leave food or liquor in your cottage. In many break in incidents, liquor is one of the common items taken. If you decide to leave it in your cottage, once again, store it out of sight.
• Ensure that all doors and windows are locked and secured when you leave. Install theft prevention devices on your sliding patio doors and windows. Even a stick in the track will prevent the sliding door or window from opening.
• Close all your curtains and blinds so that thieves cannot see inside your cottage. If you don’t have curtains, use a blanket or sheet to cover the windows.
• Install quality locks on your doors. A dead bolt is always a good idea. You can also strengthen your doors and door strikes by installing longer screws right into the wood frame. This will make it harder for someone to kick in the door. When locking up your outbuildings, quality tamper resistant locks and hasps are a good idea.
• Do not leave boats, ATV’s or other vehicles out in the open and unsecured. If you can, bring them home or lock them up in a garage, and remove the keys. If you must leave them outside, lock them to a tree or some permanent structure.
• Use your security system, if you have one. You can also purchase battery operated motion sensing alarms. It will not prevent entry to your camp, but it may scare them off or alert a neighbour to the thieves.
• If you have a gate, lock it up. This will prevent thieves from driving up to your cottage.
• If your cottage has hydro, turn it off unless you must keep your building heated. Turn off your water supply.
These are a few prevention tips to consider. Break and enters are crimes of opportunity, so eliminating the opportunity will lower the risk. For more information check the crime prevention section on the OPP website at www.opp.ca