Halton Police Offer Tips to Burlington Homeowners to Help Curb Spike in Vehicle & Garage Entries

Halton Regional Police Services has let us know there's been a significant spike in vehicle and garage entries recently and virtually all of them would have been prevented if the vehicle was locked as often when the vehicle is entered, the garage door opener is activated from within the vehicle.Halton police has put a team together to specifically target vehicle/garage entries, but need everyone’s help to lock up each night to deter criminals.Please see below a notice from Halton police with some tips.June 1, 2021The number of thefts from vehicles and the thefts from garages has increased significantly in the City of Burlington in recent weeks. We know this is concerning for you. Please know that we share your concerns.Here is what we are doingThe Halton Regional Police Service has increased patrols in affected neighbourhoods, and we have dedicated a team of investigators to investigate each of these occurrences.Here is what we are asking homeowners to doWe have increased patrols in your area, however, our officers cannot be everywhere at all times. We are asking for your help to deter crime:

• Always lock your vehicle's doors and windows after entering and exiting it.
• Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
• Park in a well-lit and attended area, if possible. If you have a garage, use it.
• If you have a front-wheel drive model, park it front end first. If you have a rear-wheel drive model, back it in.
• Always set the emergency brake.
• Invest in anti-theft devices such as ignition or fuel kill switches.
• Invest in a steering wheel lock, gearshift lock, or hood lock, steering column collar, electric alarm and/or vehicle tracking system.
• Never hide a spare key in your car.
• Never leave personal identification or valuables in your vehicle.
• Remove GPS navigation and other technology from view when not in your vehicle.
• Remove your garage door opener from your vehicle when exiting the vehicle to prevent a thief from returning at a later date and entering your garage.
• Engrave removable accessories, such as stereos, for easy identification.

We want to ensure we are deploying our resources strategically to where the incidents are occurring. If your vehicle is broken into, we ask that you report the incident to our non-emergency number at 905-825-4777, regardless of whether anything was stolen or not. If you have home surveillance video of someone entering a vehicle unlawfully, please let us know so we can investigate and attempt to identify a suspect / suspects. If you see something suspicious, trust your instincts – call our non-emergency line. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.Thank you for your commitment to community safetyHalton is a wonderful place to work, play and live. We thank you for your partnership in displacing these crimes from your neighbourhood.