Increased police presence in Chinatown and its vicinity

29 october 2020

Police officers from neighbourhood police station (PDQ) 21 will be more present in Chinatown and its vicinity following a breaking and entering incident in a building that affected six businesses in the week of October 18. Thefts were committed in some of these businesses, but not all.

PDQ 21 community relations officers met with the complainants concerned by these break-ins.  The police are making every effort to arrest the suspect or suspects. 

Important: Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been no noticeable crime problem in Chinatown, based on the events reported to the police neighbourhood police station (PDQ) 21. Since this March 1, two acts of mischief against property (graffiti and vandalism) and 9 against vehicles have been reported to PDQ 21.

Given the recent break-ins and thefts, PDQ 21 is putting forward a preventive and repressive intervention strategy.

Currently, the police have already connected with some representatives of the Asian community to inform them about the strategy. Others will be met soon. In the context of Crime Prevention Week from November 1 to 7, the police are also meeting with merchants in the area to remind them of the importance of reporting any event to the police and give them prevention tips so they can increase the security of their business.

Importance of reporting any event to the police

The PDQ 21 police officers are working with merchants and residents to emphasize the importance of reporting any mischief, vandalism or graffiti of which they might be victims.

• Complete your own online police report at spvm.qc.ca.
• Visit Local Police Station (PDQ) 21, at 1669 Rue Berri, in Montréal (near the Berri metro station).
• Call 9-1-1 if a suspect or witness is present, or if the event has a hate crime connotation.
• Report an event anonymously and confidentially to Info-Crime Montréal at 514-393-1133 or online.

Key prevention tips to secure businesses

To prevent these events, the police also invite the area’s merchants to:

• Leave the windows clear so that it can be seen from outside if a suspicious activity is happening inside.
• Leave the cash drawers open and empty to deter potential thieves.
• Ensure that the accesses and interior of the business are well lit.
• Install a secure unpickable lock with registered keys and a deadbolt of at least 2.5 cm on all doors.
• Protect the panes of the doors and windows by installing a grill or a locking device.
• Install an alarm system to scare away thieves.

Thank you for your cooperation.