Reporting
There will be times when we need the assistance of police or of other emergency services in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Below is a list of some of the services that may assist you when faced with a difficult situation. It is important to report behaviour you believe to be strange or suspicious because if you don't who will? For example: If there is a car parked on your street for several days in a row perhaps with a person inside monitoring the daily routines of those who live there, what or who is to stop them from breaking in to your house or your neighbour's house one day soon after you/they leave the house for work/vacation? Calling and reporting this to police will have police come to investigate. If the car is still there when police arrive, they can have a conversation with the person and potentially stop a future crime on your street if the person was there for the wrong reasons.
Our efforts have made a difference: Because of reports from our area about suspicious cars parked for no reason and for suspicious people walking around the neighbourhood and checking out backyards, there is a more noticeable presence of police cruisers patrolling our area. Our immediate response to reporting stolen cars left on our courts (quiet neighbourhood streets) waiting to be processed has resulted in the retrieval and disruption of the chain of stolen vehicles. Our immediate response and reporting of "Pavers" knocking on doors, checking for opened doors and potentially checking out their properties when no one answered the knock/ring at the door has reduced fraud and "Break and Enter" in our area. Criminals are now more aware that the Pleasantview area has an increased awareness of their activities both day and night and we are convinced that their behaviour has been reduced in our community. Criminal activity has not been eliminated but we have been instrumental in making a positive change keeping more residents safe.
Important Numbers to call
911
(Emergency line) Call this number when you witness a crime in progress or you or someone else needs the immediate assistance of the police, fire department or paramedics and ambulance services.
416-808-2222
(Non-Emergency line) Call this number when you notice suspicious activity (strangers walking onto properties or strange cars parked on your street for more than 30 minutes without the occupants exiting the car) in your area or for information to help you determine if what you are witnessing is a crime or not. Police will come to visit you at your home to take a report. Make sure to ask the police for a follow-up call or visit to ensure that your report was investigated!
416-222-TIPS (8477)
(Anonymous Reporting line) Call this number to report a crime or to report suspicious activity anonymously. You will not be asked for personal information and the police will not be able to contact you or visit you since this number is not aligned with caller id services. Be sure to give complete and detailed information because police will not be able to call you back to obtain any more information.
311 and 211
311 and 211 are part of the call-in-services Toronto offers to area residents. 311 is a non-emergency line to obtain general information about the services offered to Toronto residents or to express a concern about city operations. Calling 211 will provide you with information about access to social services for you, your family or for residents in need.
416-808-6600
Parking Enforcement - Unless someone has a permit or special permission to park on a street for extended periods of time, this could be a violation of Parking Bylaws and regulations or it could potentially be an example of suspicious behaviour/activity that PVCSA hopes to reduce, if not eliminate. If an unknown vehicle is parked on your street for extended periods of time or for days on end, check with your neighbours to see if they know about this car. If they don't, call Parking Enforcement to come and check the car out. This is their job and special Parking Enforcement cars usually drive by our area to do spot checks or to follow up with resident reports about cars violating the Toronto Parking Bylaws.