(NORFOLK COUNTY, ON) The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Norfolk County Detachment responds to numerous calls from cottage and/or trailer owners reporting that their vacation home has been broken into. The OPP continue to educate the public on the importance of properly shutting down your vacation home and frequent checking of your property to help reduce the number of break-ins and thefts.
Police are advising all vacation property owners to ensure that all valuable items and alcohol are removed from the premises. Small appliances and alcohol are often targeted by thieves as they are easy to steal and equally easy to sell for cash. All property owners should ensure that their property is locked and secured at all times.
A simple way to protect your property is to MARK IT. Engraving valuables with an identifier is simple and deters criminals from stealing them. Property that is easily identified is less likely to be stolen due to the permanent engraving that makes it difficult for the criminal to sell.
Using an electric engraver, scratch all, or a ball point pen will permanently mark your property. Engraving your vehicle licence plate number on your valuables is an easy way to quickly identify your property. By using your licence plate number, Police are able to trace your property. Every year thousands of dollars of recovered valuables are sold at Police auctions because it cannot be identified and returned to the rightful owner.
The OPP encourage property owners to make frequent checks of their vacation property during the “off-season†to ensure everything is secure. If travel time limits the number of opportunities to check in, arrangements should be made with a trusted friend or campground affiliate who will randomly check your property for you. This tried and tested method is the best deterrent against crime.
The OPP continue to appeal to persons living in and around trailer parks and/or cottages to report any and all suspicious activity to police when it happens. The OPP will remain committed to cottage and trailer security.
For more information on this program and many others visit www.opp.ca.
If any community resident would like a SafeGuard Ontario Property Review which will look at many features including a building’s windows, locks and pins; door hinges, frames and locks; exterior lighting; garage security and the address number displayed. You can contact Sergeant Ken Ferguson at the Norfolk OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122.