In last month's Chronicle, I noted the new 'No Trespassing' signs around Manor Park Public School. These large signs, with red lettering on a white background make it very clear that trespassing, loitering, vandalism, alcohol and foul language are NOT permitted on school property, and that absent a reasonable explanation, it is not permitted to occupy the premises from 10:30 p.m. to 06:00 a.m. These signs are the result of a concerted action by Ottawa Police and local School boards, to empower the Police to act clearly and decisively to deal with rowdiness and vandalism on school property. Because the nature of offences has been spelled out, neighbours can report offenders to the Police, who are now more able to act in charging offenders with breaches of the law. Similar signs are now visible on school property of both the public and the separate school boards.
What does this mean for Manor Park? If you are in the neighbourhood of the school and its park, and witness activities during the posted No Trespassing hours, please make the appropriate call (see the OPS Report this page for details).
I wish that I could say that there has been less crime affecting us since the last issue of the Chronicle, but such is not the case. In the Neighbourhood Watch 'league tables', our neighbours in Rockcliffe still lead in (false) alarms - by a country mile - but Manor Park has suffered from theft, fraud and residential break & enter on too many occasions over the month of September. The B&E / thefts occurred in four Manor Park homes - on St. Laurent, on Blasdell, Mart, and Crispin Private in the Domicile development. In addition residents in this area also report a number of 'suspicious incidents' which, while not further identified in Police reports on the web, suggest that they may have some link in time and location with the beak-ins or theft. What seems to be a common thread are homes where a door has been pried open or a basement window broken to permit entry, where the absence of residents during the day, and likely the absence of neighbours as well - indicating that these activities take place without arousing undue suspicion.
In addition to these incidents, other neighbours have reported to me - and to the police - incidents involving an unruly crowd in the park behind the Dairy Queen in early September (police notified), and of persons unknown who tossed eggs at a home on Kilbarry, resulting in a broken picture window and broken door window.
There were also a number of reports in the middle of September of fraud in Manor Park. Door-to-door canvassers are much less frequent, but still bothersome, if they are not your well-known neighbour collecting for a reputable cause. Last year, an e-mail notice went out about a canvasser for the Canadian Association for the Blind, notifying neighbours of the questionable status of this pseudo-charity, de-listed by the Canadian Revenue Agency. This didn't stop a nice young man from knocking on my door for the same organization a couple of weeks ago. Please remember ..."Just say No!" It's the most effective and simplest answer of all!
Neighbourhood Watch Archives:
Neighbourhood Watch Update - November 2004
