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Residential Burglary

A burglary is when someone enters illegally a place such as a home or a business and steals someone else's belongings.

A break-and-entry is when someone illegally enters a place for the purpose of committing a crime: theft, assault, etc.

What to do?

  • If you are the victim of a burglary, call 911 immediately 
  • If you witness the burglary, describe the burglar and the burglar's escape route 
  • Do not touch anything until the police arrive

Prevention tips

Advice

  • Make sure your exterior doors are well lit. Avoid having bushes, trees and fences around your home – they may provide hiding places for burglars.
  • Use automatic light timers – they're easy to install and inexpensive.
  • Engrave your valuables – your neighbourhood police station will lend you an engraver for free. CDs can be marked with indelible ink.
  • Install a security system to alert your neighbours of the presence of intruders.
  • The officers at your neighbourhood police station will help you identify the vulnerabilities in your home and take measures to fix them - for free!

If you are going away for a long time:

  • Ask someone you trust to pick up your mail
  • Cancel your newspaper subscriptions
  • In winter, have your walkway and balcony shovelled
  • In summer, have your lawn mowed

FOR SENIORS WHO SELL THEIR PROPERTY THEMSELVES

Safety tips 

  • When selling your home, before accepting visits, get information on the individual(s) (name, current place of residence, job, etc.).
  • Do not let people into your home for a visit if they do not have an appointment or if you are home alone. When a visit is scheduled, let a relative know of the date and time of the visit and of the information you have on the visitor.
  • Be aware of what people are doing during the visit.
  • Do not accept any gifts, drinks or food from a potential buyer.
  • Make sure you have easy access to a phone to be able to dial 9-1-1 if the individuals refuse to leave your home of if there is a problem.
  • If you are the victim of theft, do not attempt to defend yourself. Cooperate with the suspect(s).
  • Try to memorize as many details as possible on the suspects and dial 9-1-1.