By Angie Sullivan
As the clocks fall back, the number of residential break and enters increases in Georgina and all of York Region. To combat this seasonal spike, York Regional Police has launched a crime prevention campaign.
Project Fallback, launched Oct. 30, is a region-wide crime prevention and enforcement campaign that combines targeted police patrols, intelligence-led investigations and community involvement to disrupt property crime during the fall and winter months.
“The very day that daylight saving time comes to an end and days become shorter and darkness arrives earlier, we see the number of break and enters start to rise in our region,” said York Regional Police Superintendent Blair Steer. “Traditionally, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. is when we will see our spike in break and enters when families are out and at events.”
YRP advises residents to protect their homes and report suspicious activity.
“So please, if you see this type of activity, we wanna, we want you to be that nosy neighbour,” said Steer. “Too often we hear people tell us they’re unsure whether something was serious enough to report, but I can assure you here at York Regional Police, we’re ready to act on all these calls. Call us and we will respond.”
While incidents have been trending downward across York Region, police say the seasonal increase remains a concern:
- 2023 – 1,511 break and enters
- 2024 – 1,480 break and enters
- 2025 – 1,469 break and enters
- 2026 – 786 break and enters as of Oct. 30.
YRP Chief Paulo Da Silva said, “We are empowering our residents with practical tools and information to help them protect their homes and neighbourhoods while our officers work behind the scenes leveraging data to target the areas where criminals frequent, identifying those responsible and hold people who victimize our communities accountable.”
Project Fallback will use crime data to identify vulnerable neighbourhoods and deploy officers where they are most likely to deter criminal activity.
“We know that criminals frequently target properties that back onto green spaces, golf courses, ravines and they do this so they can enter and exit the rear of the home without being seen by neighbours or other citizens,” said Steer.
Residents can expect to see officers conducting directed patrols in selected communities, as well as visiting homes, community centres, places of worship and shopping plazas to share crime prevention information.
A key part of the campaign is asking residents to become more involved in preventing crime.
Richmond Hill Mayor David West said, “This is not something that we can just say, ‘Well, YRP will deal with it alone and nobody else has to deal with it.’ We all have a role to play in keeping our community safe, keeping ourselves safe.”
Steer said, “We know and we have seen that criminals often drive around neighbourhoods many times before they choose their targets. They wear masks, reflective vests, hard hats, or carry bags and ladders under the premise or guise that they’re working in the area.”
YRP is introducing a dedicated online portal where residents can upload potential evidence captured by doorbell cameras, home surveillance systems, dashcams and cellphones.
Tips that residents can follow to make their homes less attractive to thieves include:
- Secure:
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- Lock doors and vehicles
- Activate alarms and check sensors
- Secure windows that are easy to reach
- Deter:
- Use lights and cameras
- Install motion-detected lights
- Protect:
- Remove valuables, spare keys and garage openers from vehicles
- Don’t leave mail and packages outside
- Don’t share dates you will be absent with people you don’t trust
- Maintain:
- Clear snow from vehicles and driveway
- Trim shrubs/trees around doors, windows and gates
- Report suspicious activity to police
Project Fallback reflects the priorities outlined in York Regional Police’s newly released 2026-2029 strategic plan, announced Nov. 4.
“As York Region continues to grow and evolve, we remain committed to providing effective, responsive and accountable police services that meet the needs of our communities,” said Board Chair Steve Pellegrini. “At the heart of this plan is a clear commitment: to keep York Region safe while strengthening public trust and confidence in policing.”
The plan identifies crime prevention through strategic enforcement and proactive public safety initiatives. Public education plays an important role.
“This plan sets out a clear direction for our police service and the work we will undertake over the next three years,” Chief Paulo Da Silva said. “It is informed by the voices of local residents and business owners, our members, our municipal and community partners, and the data, trends, challenges and opportunities we face in public safety and policing across York Region.”
Information about Project Fallback and home security tips is available at
https://www.yrp.ca/stay-safe/property-safety/home-and-property-safety/break-and-enter-prevention
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