The North Bay Police Service is reminding residents to be vigilant and take steps to protect their homes following a residential break-and-enter in the Tweedsmuir Drive area. On Oct. 28 around noon, a man entered a residence in the area, where he discovered the homeowner inside the residence, prompting him to flee. He’s described as a white male, about 5-foot-10 and was wearing a ski mask to conceal his identity. Investigators are asking residents in the area to review their security camera footage on that day between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and report any suspicious activity or footage that may help with the investigation. Residents whose properties back onto greenspaces, wooded areas or trails are encouraged to be particularly aware of activity around their homes and ensure access points are secure. Police are offering some simple ways to protect your home. Residents should monitor security cams for people checking doors, windows or vehicles on neighbouring properties. Suspicious activity could include an unexpected knock at your door from someone asking for a person you don’t recognize, unfamiliar people spending extended periods around homes and vehicles repeatedly driving slowly through a neighbourhood or stopping near homes. Group keeps database of CCTV cams Deputy police chief Robert Norman said now is the perfect time to register for CAMSafe, a CCTV and security video registry designed to help keep our community safe and help police solve crimes. The program creates a registry of residents and businesses that own security cameras, CCTV systems or doorbell cameras in the community. Only police have access to the database. CAMSafe requires only basic contact information and camera locations and doesn’t access your cameras directly. “Property crime appears to be on the rise in our community, but that doesn’t mean that we need to jump to alarm and take certain actions to fortify your residence,” Norman said. “Make sure that you have adequate and effective lighting around your house. If you have the opportunity and ability to invest in a surveillance system, acquire it and set it up.” Residents should not approach or confront anyone they believe may be involved in criminal activity. If you see something suspicious, note details such as descriptions of people, vehicles and direction of travel, and report them to police. Call 911 if you witness a crime in progress or there is an immediate threat to safety. For non-emergency police matters, contact police at 705-472-1234.
