‘Lock it or lose it’, police say

OPP look to identify property theft suspect North Bay OPP is seeking public assistance in identifying a suspect in a property theft investigation in Bonfield, Ont. from last month.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in North Bay-area are reminding people to safeguard their property and are offering tips to make your home a harder target.

Increase in property thefts in the region

“North Bay OPP have received calls reporting suspicious persons, thefts from property and thefts from insecure vehicles,” police said in a social media post last week.

“OPP remind the public to safeguard your property (and to) lock it or lose it.”

Last month, on the evening of July 28, 2024, police received a call of a suspicious person on Greenwood Drive in Bonfield, Ont.

The OPP investigation into the incident found a yellow gas-powered pressure washer was stolen and a vehicle was entered, according to a separate social media post.

Police have released video surveillance (shown above) of the suspect in the incident and are asking anyone with information related to the incident or who can identify the suspect shown to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Residential property thefts

According to the OPP SafeGuard Ontario Property Security Program, seven of 10, break-and-enters are residential – including detached sheds and garages.

SafeGuard Ontario is a community-based crime prevention program developed to help citizens “lock criminals out of house and home.”

The program provided the following tips to safeguard your home:

Vehicle thefts

Provincial police are also seeing an uptick in vehicle theft and thefts from vehicles.

“Lock it or lose it,” police said.

OPP said to protect your vehicle from theft;

Always:

Never:

Police said we can keep the community safe by working together.