The Peterborough Police Service is encouraging local business owners to provide police with contact information.
Because only essential businesses are allowed to remain open during Ontario’s state of emergency, some local businesses are closed and vacant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police are asking businesses to complete an online form at peterboroughpolice.com/request/business-property/ to provide information about the business, its location, whether it is currently vacant, and key-holder contact information.
The police will use this information if they need to gain access to the business while it is vacant or closed. The information is only for police use and will be kept confidential.
Businesses can update the information as required by returning to the online form later.
Police are also offering the following crime prevention tips for local businesses that have shut down because of the pandemic:
- Keep the lights on
- Remove all cash and receipts
- Do NOT leave any valuables visible or accessible
- All safe and registers/tills should be emptied and moved offsite for safe storage
- Keep all cash tills and drawers empty and open to show that there is nothing in them
- Have all ATMs emptied and moved off-site
- Remove all alcohol products from restaurant/bar areas and move them to a secure storage area (no alcohol should be left visible from the outside)
- Consider posting “no cash or valuables on-premises” signage
- Deactivate all scheduled FOB door openings for cleaners and delivery services
- Make regular site visits to monitor your shop/business and to manage inventory and storage conditions (consider scattering the time that this is done to discourage establishing a pattern)
For more information or for any questions, contact the Peterborough Police Service Communications Centre at 705-876-1122 ext. 225.
