Taken: 1 set of summer tires!

Our neighbourhood is considered one of the safer neighbourhoods in Mississauga by Peel Regional Police but, sometimes, a resident experiences a break-in that makes them wonder how safe they are. Recently, a garage was broken into and the thief (or thieves) stole a set of summer tires -- nothing else, just the tires. This leaves us to scratch our heads and wonder what the thieves were up to. Did they notice the car parked outside the garage, see that it had winter tires on, and thnk "I need a set of summer tires for a car just like this, and this is as good a place to get them as any"? Boggles the mind, really.

So what can we do as a neighbourhood?

1. If anyone has any information about this, please respond to this post.
2. To protect our homes and possessions, make sure that you do have a lock on your garage door and lock it at all times. Don't leave the door open if you are not within sight -- it just takes a moment for a thief to enter, take what he wants, and leave, often without you knowing. People usually don't have an alarm attached to their garage doors, but it might be good if we did;
3. Also make sure that you lock your car doors at all times -- even if it is inside your garage. Thieves are attracted to GPS systems, radios, boom boxes, CD players, anything related to technology -- and it doesn't matter whether it is is permanently "installed" or not for them to attempt to take it. Modern cars sometimes have the capability to lock themselves automatically a short time after the engine has been turned off, but don't take that for granted. Get into the habit of locking it yourself when you exit the car.

This type of crime is simply one of opportunity and does not reflect on surroundings or personalities; it happens all the time all over the city and all the time. That doesn't make it acceptable, far from it! Unfortunately, it happened here within the past week and it is unnerving to the victims, and to the neighbourhood in general. Help us out if you can.

Is anyone out there?

With the start of both the new year and the new decade, we are hoping to have more dialogue with the residents of Birch Glen  - possibly through this blog. The question is, however, whether this blog is redundant, given the news postings on the website and any feedback through direct email. Does this blog fit with the website? Should we keep it? If we do, what should it's use be?

Welcome to our Birch Glen community blog

With our revamped web site now available, we needed a way to provide feedback and communication within the Residents' Association:

• as a link between the Association Executive/Board Directors and member residents;
• as a secure link between (and among) the residents within the neighbourhood to share ideas about possible and proposed events and projects they would like to comment on;
• a forum for questions about issues relating to the neighbourhood or the community at large.

This is our blog and your blog. Please provide your feedback and comments.