Break and Enter Prevention

Take these six steps to protect your home from criminals

York Regional Police encourages residents to take proactive steps to help keep their home safe.

Break and enters are often crimes of opportunity. The more difficult you make it for thieves to break into your home, the more likely it is that they will move along.

Use technology: Install security cameras and put indoor and outdoor lights on timers

• Cameras and lights may scare off thieves looking to break into your home.
• Images captured by security cameras may allow police to identify suspicious people around your property, or significantly increase the chance of suspects conducting break-and-enters being identified.
• Lights on timers can be controlled from your phone, and will give thieves the impression that someone is home.

Clean up the yard: Cut back trees, shrubs and anything blocking the view of entrances

• Thieves use trees, shrubs and other landscaping to keep themselves from being seen while they break into homes.
• Neighbours, police and passers-by won't be able to see someone breaking in if they are hidden from sight by a tree, or bush.
• Thieves also use trees and other landscaping to gain access to homes through windows or balconies.

Shut it down: Close, lock and secure all doors and windows

• Thieves like to test for an easy way in: Locking doors and windows may be the easiest step you can take to deter them.
• Don't forget to lock windows on upper floors, in basements, or to close and lock your garage.
• Install a good, quality deadbolt lock, and block sliding doors from opening on their tracks. See additional tips about securing doors and windows.

Don't make it obvious: Store valuables somewhere unexpected

• Limit the valuable items in your home that someone can see through a window or doorway.
• Do not store valuables in the bedroom. The bedroom is often the first, and sometimes the only, place thieves will look.
• Consider purchasing a safety deposit box, or invest in a safe for items that are irreplaceable.

• Usually, thieves are looking for items they can sell, like jewelry, electronics, high-end fashion, and cash.

Won't you be my neighbour? Know your neighbours and have them watch your home

• Get to know your neighbours. Watch their home while they're away, and have them watch yours.
• Ask a neighbour to remove flyers or newspapers that may pile up while you're out of town.
• Ask someone to shovel your driveway or mow your lawn while you're away. If you usually park in the driveway, ask a neighbour to park their car there instead.
• Call police and tell your neighbours if you notice suspicious activity in your community.

Help us help you: Register on the York Regional Police Security Camera Registry

• Cameras entered into the Security Camera Registry have helped solve sexual assaults, auto thefts, hit and runs and armed abductions, as well as break and enters.
• Cameras are plotted onto a map, which helps police know where to turn for help when searching for video evidence.
• Registering does not give police access to your camera, it just allows us to know where cameras are located while investigating.

More home protection tips

Review our list of home protection tips to increase safety and prevent your home from becoming criminals' next target. Further, conduct home security audits regularly by using Ontario's Home Security Audit Guide.

Create a crime-preventing environment

Using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles at your home poses a challenge for criminals and reduces your risk of becoming a victim. Learn more about how you can thwart criminals with design at your home.