Safety Tips

Distracted Driving Video From Local Artist

Aggressive Panhandling

Panhandling, in particular aggressive panhandling is becoming more prevalent in the Thunder Bay area.

If you are out and about and find a panhandler engaged in the following actions:  blocking your path or, swearing, following you or is intoxicated, this is an aggressive panhandler.  The Safe Street Act prohibits this type of actions from anyone who engages in panhandling.

If this person is located in front of a business you should inform the owner or manager of this.  Of if you are in one of the downtown cores, please let one of the Foot Patrol Officers of the Thunder Bay Police know about this panhandler.

Remember you are under no obligation to give any money to a person who is engaging in this activity.  A person who is truly down and needs a hand up will access many of the agencies and organizations that will assist you if you are down on your luck.

Please inform the Foot Patrol of any encounters with an aggressive panhandler and remember if you have information on any unsolved crime, call Crime Stoppers.

Stolen Vehicles - Be a good Witness

Stolen vehicles are always a concern for Police and Thunder Bay District Crime Stoppers.

They are often used in other crimes including robberies and break-ins.  And because they are stolen there is a tendency to use them to evade Police when apprehension is imminent. 

If you suspect a vehicle is stolen and/or is involved in a crime do not approach a suspect.  Be the best witness possible and call Police or Crime Stoppers immediately.  Make careful note of what the suspect looks like and what he’s wearing.  Get a good description of the vehicle including the license plate.  In a case of a vehicle that appears to have been abandoned or left unattended for several days note how long its been there or if its moved periodically.

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for any information that leads to the recovery of any stolen vehicle or one that is involved in any crime.

 

   

Stolen Property - Please Report

Have you been the victim of a crime?  Has your shed been broken into? Has someone gone through your vehicle?  If so, Crime Stoppers asks that you please make a report with the police.

By not reporting stolen items to the police, no matter the value of the item, it limits the action the police can take.  If an item is not reported stolen, the person found with the item in their possession cannot be charged with possession of stolen property.  As well, any recovered items cannot be linked back to the rightful owner.

Protect yourself and your property.  Please keep accurate records: record serial numbers, model and product numbers, date purchased and where and any other features that makes the item unique and readily identifiable to you.

If this information is in the police report then if the item is recovered, you will be contacted and arrangements can be made to pick up this item.

If you know anyone dealing in stolen property or the location of any stolen property, call Crime Stoppers!

 

 

Theft from Sheds

Crime Stoppers is seeking your help in identifying the people responsible for a large number of sheds being broken into.

Over the past few months, police have seen an increase in the number of storage sheds being broken into. These are occurring all over the City with not one area having more then another.

Police report that the hasps to the locks are being cut or the doors being forced open.  From the sheds bikes, yard tools, power tools are being stolen.

Police require that even if nothing was stolen; please report this type of incident.  These reports will help with an analysis of data; time lines, dates and times can be plotted against these events.  It may help lead police to capture or identify parties responsible.

If you have information on anyone who is responsible for these break and enters, call crime stoppers.

Crime Proofing the Home

Residential Break and enters are a concern to people in every community and Thunder Bay is no exception

While there is no way to guarantee your home will not be the target of a determined thief, there are things you can do that will not mark your home as a crime of opportunity to some aspiring thief.

If your going to be away from your home for an extended period of time during the winter months you should consider the following tips to help crime proof your house.

Ensure your mail is picked up everyday. Have a neighbour or family member attend your house daily to remove the delivered mail. If this is not an option, have your mail stopped.

Have your driveway and walkway shoveled after a snowfall. Nothing says 'nobody home then a snow covered walkway.

Place electrical appliances such as lamps and televisions and radios on variable timers. With random patterns it is difficult to determine if anyone is in fact home.

Allow your neighbours or family to place their excess garbage on your property on pick up day. This will make someone think, if no one is home, why is there garbage to be picked up.

Lastly if not cost prohibited, consider having an alarm installed. There are many reputable companies in the area with a variety of pricing available. Some may even qualify for a reduction in your home owners insurance.

If you have any information on any unsolved crime, call Crime Stoppers @ 1 800 222 8477.

How Crime Stoppers Works

Crime Stoppers is a non profit, charitable organization that is not a police program.

Crime Stoppers pays cash for information that our Law enforcement partners have found to be useful.  In either solving crimes or by bring new information (intelligence) that was unknown to the agency.

Remember your call is anonymous.  Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to caller id or taped lines.  In fact, any information that will point to the gender of the caller is not included in any tips sent to our partners for investigation or follow up.

Once a caller has given the information to Crime Stoppers, they are assigned a onetime use id number.  It is this number that will identify the caller to the Crime Stoppers program coordinator.

Callers must remember to contact Crime Stoppers to see if their tip is eligible for a reward.  If the caller never calls to enquire about the status of the tip, the reward issued can never be given out.  Also caller must remember the id number issued or reward cannot be issued.

In order to pay out these rewards, Crime Stoppers relies on donations from the public and support in our fund raising activities.  Crime Stoppers receives no Government funding for this.

So if you have any information on any unsolved crime, remember your call is anonymous, you never have to reveal your identity; you never have to testify in court call Crime Stoppers.