NOTE: IF YOU SEE ANYONE SUSPICIOUS LOITERING IN THE AREA, CALL THE POLICE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER: 416-808-2222. IF YOU SEE A CRIMINAL ACT IN PROGRESS, CALL 9-1-1.
We were alerted today to some recent neighbourhood break-ins. One took place on May 29th on Dermott Place during a 1 hour period where the residents were out. Here’s the note from another resident from May 28th:
Just a heads up: Neighbors who live on Sumach Street had their house broken into on Sunday. Professional job, pried their way in the back door while house was empty using pro tools, cleaned them out of all jewelery, watches, hidden cash, laptops and electronics, no fingerprints.
Today they heard from police that same crew are on a spree and broke into another Cabbagetown house this morning.
Best we all be on the alert and keep each other posted.
Update June 6th:
A 4th report in recent days. This time an attempted break-in was reported on Geneva Ave. on Saturday, June 6th at around 7:30 pm. Here is the report from the resident:
I wanted to relay the information of the very scary incident that occurred at our home on Geneva Avenue this evening. At around 7:30 pm our home had an attempted break in. We had just gotten home from a birthday party and I had sent J. out for pizza. In the few minutes he was gone I heard a knock on the door. I looked out my bedroom window to see a man standing at my door. He looked a bit unkept and worn; my instinct told me not to go down and answer. I waited a few seconds and looked out again to see him walking around the corner down Riverdale Park Road. I walked down my hall to the back of my home and looked out the spare bedroom window which looks onto Gordon Sinclair Lane. Two men were standing just outside my backyard gate. I went back to my bedroom to grab my son and ran back to the spare bedroom to look out the window. The 2 men had opened the gate and were walking toward the house. I ran down the stairs and out the front door. I called the police from a neighbour’s house. This all happened in less than 5 minutes.
Prior to the police arriving I ran around the back and confronted the two men shouting and screaming at them. This was a stupid thing to do and the police agreed that if something like this happens to wait for them to arrive. I did get a good look at both men who walked casually out of my backyard and walked in opposite directions; one toward Sumach and the other through the baseball field.
Both men were in their mid 50’s roughly 5’9 – 5’10. Both Caucasian, one slender build bald with glasses. The other stocky blondish hair, roughly 250 lbs.
Unfortunately these emails of break-ins are circulating frequently within the last couple of weeks. I wanted to relay the info of how the incident happened and what the two men looked like so we can all keep a close eye on our street and what to look out for.
Please forward this email onto our Cabbagetown neighbours. Let’s keep the discussion going to see if we can put any more pieces together to ensure we all stay safe.
The Cabbagetown BIA recently released a special Police Edition newsletter that had a number of good pieces of information:
1. Report all criminal activity, no matter how trivial it might seem
The more reports filed within our neighbourhood, the more resources will be assigned here. To report, you can call 416-808-2222 or if the value is less than $5000, the report can also be submitted online.
2. If you see a crime in progress or you are in danger, call 911 immediately
Enough said.
3. Reduce the chances that you will be targeted
Read the TPS’ Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (.pdf) report for tips on how to reduce your risk.
4. Bike Theft
This is one of the most common crimes in our neighbourhood. If you’d like to increase your chances of getting your bicycle back, be sure to register your bike with the Police. You can do it in person, or submit your bicycle registration form online.