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How to protect your home or cottage against break-ins

A message from Haliburton Highlands OPP is important when people leave their homes for trips, or when packing up the cottage. Break-ins are not uncommon in the Highlands, so valuables should not be left behind. They’re reminding you to have a contact to check your property regularly and lock up all windows and doors.

Here is a full list of the reminders from OPP:

  • 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 proect 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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