The North Bay Police Service (NBPS) has had reports of three cars that were broken into in the Graniteville neighbourhood over a two-night span.
John Schultz, Community Safety Coordinator for the North Bay Police Service says that the break-ins happened in the area of Norman Avenue and Ski Club Road, near WJ Fricker Public School.
“When you look statistic-wise and some studies that have been done, people who tend to lead on the side of crime, if they’re successful at it at a given area, they will return to that area,” Schultz said.
Police had members of the Youth In Policing Initiative going door to door handing out pamphlets outlining the Lock It Or Lose it campaign. The crime prevention program run by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police provides information to the public on vehicle protection.
Some tips from the campaign include:
- Rolling up windows and locking doors when you exit the vehicle
- Never leave your vehicle unattended while it’s running
- Use a locked garage if you have one
- Don’t leave vehicle registration or insurance slips in the glovebox
- Never leave valuables in plain view
The program also states that “a professional can steal your vehicle in just 30 seconds – without the key.”
Schultz says that nothing of significant value was stolen from the vehicles in Graniteville, adding that it was mostly spare change taken from the cars. He adds that it’s important to remind people that crime can happen anywhere.
“We want to get out into that area and tell people that there are people stealing from vehicles, they’re going through your neighbourhood so lock it or lose it,” he said.
Schultz also says that the vehicles were broken into while parked in the driveways of homes.
“If you see people out and it’s the middle of the night and you happen to be up for whatever reason if you want to call in, those are the calls we want to take. Get a description of a person; if there’s a vehicle involved, get a license plate,” he finished.
