NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE
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A 20-year-old Barrie man faces 21 charges following a series of thefts from vehicles and early-morning door knocks in Bradford.
On Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 3:43 a.m., South Simcoe Police Service officers received the first of three calls within less than 10 minutes regarding a man at the front door of three different homes in the Langford Boulevard and Rutherford Road area.
A short time later, police located a suspect in a nearby residential area. As officers attempted to arrest the man, he assaulted an officer and fled on foot. Police gave chase and took the man into custody after he jumped into a pond in a bid to escape.
The man is charged with the following offences:
- Trespass/prowl near dwelling house (three counts)
- Obstruct Peace Officer (three counts)
- Theft Under (three counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 (three counts)
- Assault with intent to resist arrest
- Breach of Probation Order (seven counts)
- Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose
The accused was held for a bail hearing. Police seized a number of stolen items.
All of our residents should feel safe and secure in their homes and can take steps to protect themselves from criminals. We thank these citizens for doing the right thing by not opening their doors to a stranger and reporting suspicious activity immediately. Here are some security tips:
Door Security
- Install a good deadbolt lock
- Chain locks are an inadequate security measure. Instead install a wide angle peep-hole so you do not have to open the door to see the person.
- If you have children consider including a second peep-hole at a child’s height
- All hinges should be accessible from the interior of the home only
- Ensure your door is equipped with non-removable hinge pins
- Most doors are installed with screws less than 1″ in length. This results in a door that appears secure but is relatively weak and prone to being kicked in. Door kick break-ins are common, so door screws should be at least 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches long
Window Security
- Sliding doors and windows can be “lifted” out of the tracks with relative ease. Installing screws or a blocking device above the sliding door or window will help to prevent it from being lifted off the tracks
- Install a snug piece of wood in the track of sliding patio doors
- Install a pin into the frame of a sliding window to prevent it from being pushed open
- Glass within 40 inches of a door lock can be broken and a criminal can reach inside to unlock the door. The security of windows can be improved by adding a polycarbonate panel. Call South Simcoe Police or glass specialist for details.
Please remember to remove valuables from your vehicle, regardless of where you park. Leaving items in plain sight is an invitation to thieves.
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