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Closing up the cottage - tips from the Ontario Provincial Police.
Posted On: Sunday, October 16, 2016
FROM/DE: Central Region Headquarters DATE: OCTOBER 5, 2016
CLOSING UP THE COTTAGE
(ORILLIA, ON) It’s autumn and the time has arrived for all property owners to start considering the closure and winterizing of their cottages.
Cottages and summer homes are most vulnerable to thieves from the week following Thanksgiving to the weeks prior to Victoria Day, especially if the owners are not using them for fall, winter or spring getaways.
Remember, if there is no one living at it or checking it regularly, the cost of owning a cottage or summer property includes the frustration and irritation of repairing damage and replacing stolen property.
Tips to Consider
- Pack up all food and alcohol.
- Don’t leave firearms or weapons at the cottage.
- If you are leaving vehicles, make sure they’re winterized, secure and disabled – for snow machines remove track and hide keys; ensure boats are covered and locked; outboard motors locked and slightly disassembled; ATVs disabled – leave nothing on trailers unless it is locked or disabled.
- Leave no valuables at cottage – electronics, personal items, tools etc. unless you are prepared to lose them.
- Who is your contact (key holder) for: alarms, thefts, weather damage or animal problems? Do you have their contact information numbers? Are they paid to check your cottage regularly or are they friends/neighbours?
- Your insurance company may give you a deduction if you have one.
- Secure your windows and doors - close window curtains or blinds and put up shutters to protect interior from marauders (both animals and human).
- Record serial numbers of anything of value left behind.
- Sporting goods – fishing rods & equipment, water skis, toys etc. – if they’re not secured, locked up, hidden or both, don’t expect them to be there next spring –
Lock them up or be prepared to lose them!
- Make a list of where everything is and make copies – store one copy on your home computer and put a copy with property that will go back up to the cottage on the first or next trip (use your phone to take pictures).
- Know which police force patrols your cottage area (which OPP Detachment and the phone number).
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Contact: A/Sgt Paul Nancekivell, Central Region Media/CSO Coordinator
Phone: 519-943-3838
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). You can submit your information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com if you have any information on this crime or any other crime. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display and you will remain anonymous. Being anonymous, you will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.00
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