Posted On Jan 20, 2026

The beginning of a new year is often one of the few moments when life slows down just enough to reflect. Before routines fill up again, many of us take stock of what the past year brought—and what we want the year ahead to feel like.

For me, that reflection has been shaped not only by my professional conversations, but by what I experienced close to home.

Like many neighbourhoods across the GTA, my own community experienced a rise in crime over the past year, including a small number of home invasions. It was unsettling because it challenged a sense of safety many of us had taken for granted.

I live in a beautiful neighbourhood. It’s a place where people care deeply about their homes, raise families, support aging parents, and take pride in the streets they live on. What we experienced wasn’t unique to us, nor was it a reflection of neglect or complacency—it was part of a broader issue affecting many communities across the city.

What I’m most grateful for is how neighbours responded.

 

Rather than retreating inward, people came together. Conversations started. Information was shared. Neighbours checked in on one another and paid closer attention to what was happening around them. I had the privilege of helping bring people together, raise concerns collectively to our elected representatives, and help establish clearer communication—both within the neighbourhood and with those officials.

That experience reinforced a simple but powerful idea: there are moments when the most important thing a community can do is come together and focus on what’s within its collective control.

Focusing on What We Can Control

One of the most constructive shifts we made as a neighbourhood was moving away from fear and toward practical action.

We acknowledged that we couldn’t control everything—broader crime trends, policing resources, or what happens beyond our streets. But we could control how aware we were, how well our homes were prepared, and how connected we were to one another.

From that mindset came a set of practical safety considerations we shared widely among neighbours

A few of the most important themes stood out that I would like to share in case it can help you and your communities.

Awareness Comes First

Before any upgrades or major spends on security or camera systems, we encouraged people to simply look at their homes through a different lens.

Walking around the property—day and night—and asking basic questions:

  • What’s easy to access?

  • What’s hidden from view?

  • What would attract attention, or avoid it?

Often, the simplest observations led to the most meaningful changes.

Visibility Is a Powerful Deterrent

One of the most consistent realizations was how effective lighting and visibility can be.

Well-lit entryways, side yards, and driveways dramatically reduce risk. Motion lighting, trimmed bushes, and clear sightlines send a simple message: this home is seen, and this street is attentive

These changes are relatively inexpensive, but their impact is disproportionate.

Strengthening the Basics

We also spent time on fundamentals that are often overlooked:

  • Reinforcing door frames and locks

  • Securing patio doors and basement windows

  • Making sure side gates and backyards weren’t easy entry points

In many cases, small upgrades—such as longer hinge screws or simple door reinforcements—can significantly slow entry, often buying enough time for help to arrive or for someone to abandon the attempt altogether.

Cars as a Key Part of Home Safety

Another important realization was how closely vehicle theft and home safety are connected.

Many break-ins weren’t about valuables inside the home, but about access to car keys. Simple habits—parking in the garage if possible, keeping key fobs away from doors, using steering wheel locks, improving driveway lighting—helped reduce risk immediately. For those who wanted to go further, options like kill switches or tracking devices added another layer of protection

Connection Is the Fastest Response

Perhaps the most effective “tool” we focused on wasn’t physical at all—it was connection.

We created a WhatsApp Neighbourhood Safety Group chat to keep each other informed and look out for one another. Letting one another know when they were away, checking in when something felt off, etc. 

The fastest response, we learned, often comes from a connected street—not a system or device

Small Steps, Taken Together

One message we repeated often was this: you don’t need to do everything.

Each household chose what made sense for them. But when many people made a few thoughtful improvements—better lighting, stronger locks, closer communication—the neighbourhood as a whole became a harder target and a calmer place to live.  And we have become closer as a community.

Let's connect!

  • If your community is going through this now, I’d be happy to chat about my community’s experience - and maybe you have some of your own you would like to share. 

  • Call/text:  416 801-6616. Email: Domenic@BetterMortgagesByDom.ca

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