Police warn to be wary of porch pirates and keep your homes and vehicles safe from thieves.
As Christmas season approaches Toronto Police are sharing some tips to prevent your deliveries from being stolen from your front porch and to better secure your homes and vehicles.
Police in a bulletin said to stop porch piracy have packages delivered to your workplace or use locker services from delivery companies or have it held at a distribution center.
You can have family members, friends or trusted neighbours accept packages on your behalf, or have the goods left in less conspicuous places like a side door, behind a planter or garbage can.
Some people install a smart security camera system at the front door that cannot be smashed or request signature on deliveries if possible.
Keep our vehicle in the garage if you have one and leave less expensive cars behind expensive ones in the driveway to avoid thefts.
Keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles or people in your neighbourhood, report suspicious activity to police or file a theft report online at torontopolice.on.ca
To avoid thefts from your home, you can leave your exterior lights on all night, have a perimeter motion detector or alarm, monitored home alarm or place security film on windows or doors.
Police also warn to have locks on all doors inside and out, secure the basement windows, or install a video doorbell or driveway alarm.
Use security or door cameras to monitor your homes when you are away. Never post your travel plans online.
Use an alarm when home and out, lock doors and windows or houses and cars, move ladders from outside your home and keep windows and doors free of tall trees and shrubs where criminals can hide.
Other useful tips include the displaying a jewellery box with less valuable items, if keeping valuables in a closet install a thick, heavy lock and don’t mention to service or maintenance individuals of planned trips.
Also don’t post your vacations on social media, get a Beware of Dog sign and leave a water bowl or leash outside.
Remove ladders from around your home and cut trees or shrubs so thieves cannot hide.
Place a kill switch on your vehicle’s ignition, lock hood and hide your key in a faraday bag at home.
If you have a garage, clean it out to put your car and don’t leave valuables inside; also place less desirable car behind move expensive ones in the driveway.
Install a GPS tracker to help police find your vehicle if stolen and lock onboard diagnostic using a simple device that blocks access to where thieves reprogram the vehicle’s key fob
You can also join a Neighbourhood Watch group to be aware of what is happening in the community, walk with your head up and pay attention to your surroundings and always have your house and car keys ready.
Tips to avoid thefts
Tips to avoid home and vehicle thefts.