Cottage Watch
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Cottage break and enters, damage and theft are serious concerns impacting police, cottagers, cottagers’ associations and insurance companies. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) encourages crime prevention at the cottage in support of local cottage associations and Cottage Watch initiatives across Ontario.—-
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What is Cottage Watch?
A Community Watch Program initiative promoting cottage community safety and security.
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Who Is Involved In Cottage Watch?
• cottagers
• cottage, road or lake associations
• your local OPP Detachment
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How Does Cottage Watch Work?
As a member of Cottage Watch, you are a “partner in community safety” by:
• simply reporting suspicious persons or activities to police; and
• participating in cottage safety & crime prevention programs (e.g. OPP Operation Identification, SafeGuard Ontario Property Security Program, etc).
Cottage Watch, like other Community Watch initiatives, is a community driven -police supported initiative. Information in support of establishing a local Cottage Watch initiative is available from the OPP Crime Prevention Section, through your local OPP Detachment.
Crime Prevention
The Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations (FOCA) offers the following advice for safer communities:
Crime Prevention at the Cottage
Cottage break and enters, damage, and theft are serious concerns for cottagers, cottage associations, the police, and insurance companies.
Good crime prevention depends on community involvement, and ensuring individuals, and everyone in the community, are involved in crime prevention and fire safety.
Some steps towards safer communities include:
1. Organizing cottage association members into cottage watch groups.
2. Maintaining communications between property owners and the OPP to reduce the incidence of theft, damage, and break-ins.
3. Assisting the police in crime prevention and detection.
4. Promoting fire safety for rural properties, and the use of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in cottage properties.
5. Promoting the use of engravers and property identification measures to help solve crimes.
What can I do about crime?
• Do not attempt to apprehend or pursue the criminal
• If the crime is in progress contact 9-1-1
• If a crime has been detected call 1-888-310-1122
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To view the Ontario Provincial Police Cottage Watch Tip Sheet, click here. Cottage Watch — OPP