This isn’t one of our usual Crime Alerts, but more of a caution from a resident who saw some suspicious behaviour a few nights ago.
Hello all – I live [on Spruce Street between Sword and River Streets], and am writing just to suggest you be extra cautious about possible burglaries in our neighbourhood. I have heard of a break-in on our street about a month ago.
And tonight [September 26] as I was walking my dog there was a strange guy walking towards me looking carefully in people’s windows. He was unusual and I noticed when I looked back after passing him that he looked closely in the window at [another house on] Spruce and then actually went in the backyard for a bit. (Apologies if this is someone you know or were expecting, but it didn’t appear that way.)
When he came out he walked east and I turned around and followed him. Sure enough, he turned left and then headed back west down the lane behind Spruce, and when I came into the lane he was again looking in people’s backyards. He turned back and as he passed me kept his head down under his cap, but I said hello, he looked up and I got a look at him. He is very slight, and no more than 5’6″. I took the attached photos, in the lane, and then on Geneva, not great as behind and from a distance.
There was also a cigarette butt in my backyard yesterday by the house, which had no reason for being there, and I have a locked high fence around my backyard. This also happened in 2007 when my house was broken into.
Just thought I should let you know. Take care.
If you have any information on this or any other matter of similar concern – call Toronto Police. Also, be sure to report crimes of any severity or value to the police as they monitor these reports and assign resources accordingly. If you would like to let fellow residents know also, please contact us and let us know what you would be comfortable with us sharing.
Toronto Police:
416-808-2222 for non-emergency inquiries
911 for emergencies and crimes in progress
Toronto Police CORE (Citizen Online Report Entry)
Toronto Police Bicycle Registration Form
2 replies on “Crime Alert: Suspicious Behaviour on Spruce nr. Sword St.”
I live on Carlton Street just east of Sumach. Between 3PM and 4PM on Thursday September 22, I heard a noise coming from the front porch and realized someone was trying to get in my front door. The dog was beside herself — barking non-stop through the window. I have a big plate glass window that overlooks the front porch and from the back kitchen via the reflection in a piece of glass on the wall I could see a man on the porch shaking his fist at the dog. This and the noise of him working the door handle went on for about five minutes at which point the man rang the door bell as he turned and left the porch.
About 15 minutes later I went out to see if perhaps this had been a man with a delivery. Nope.
The man was wearing a plaid shirt with a pale background and it included red stripes. He was either wearing a dark cap, has dark hair or is dark skinned.
The next night, around 9:30PM someone came and briefly pounded on the door, rang the doorbell once and then left. The dog went nuts. No indication left behind to suggest why someone might have stopped by without signalling their intention to do so.
Thank you for your comments and for sharing your story. Did you call the police? If you didn’t, I would recommend doing so now just so they have a record of it. I have been made aware from other residents that someone has been arrested in the area for behaviour that sounds very similar to this so hopefully that will be the end of this particular incident.