With Thanksgiving weekend coming up, many cottagers may be thinking about closing up for the summer.
And whether you own a cottage or a year-round home, it’s important to make sure your place is secure.
Ontario Provincial Police says that break-ins remain “all too common” in the region. They are crimes of opportunity and the more difficult you can make things for thieves, the better.
Police offer several tips to homeowners. That includes giving your home a “lived in” look, with automatic light timers and motion sensors.
They also recommend having someone pick up your mail, mow your lawn or shovel snow, so the house always looks like someone’s there.
For those in rural areas, they recommend keeping fences in good shape. They also say you should secure all access roads with gates or cables. They also recommend dead-bolting locks on exterior doors.
Other tips are as follows:
- Keep small equipment, like mowers, bikes, snowmobiles, locked in a barn or garage. Insure your home and contents, and store valuables in a safety deposit box.
- Consider installing home security system or cameras and ensure that everybody in the house knows how it works.
- Know your neighbours and your neighbourhood. Neighbours can look out for each other and reduce crime in their communities.
Police add that burglary can have an emotional impact on a person’s well being, as they may feel a sense of violation. They want people to take steps, so they don’t become victims.