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6 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday,August 31, 2010 OPINION Thwart B&Es Following a recent rash of break-ins across the region, Halton Regional Police recently issued a reminder to homeowners to be vigilant when securing their homes and ensuring alarm systems are activated. The warning came on the heels of a series of break-ins in Halton Hills and the arrest of two suspects allegedly responsible for a series of 34 entries into homes in Burlington and Oakville. The simple fact is, many homeowners do not take enough preventative steps in protecting their property from criminals. While vacation season is winding down, that doesn't mean homeowners should lower their guard. Several tips in securing your home while on holidays also apply for when you aren't on vacation. Among the simple things you can do to help deter break-ins are: · Use automatic timers that turn lights on and off to give your home the appearance of it being occupied · Leave a door key and key to your alarm system (if you have one) with a neighbour · If you will be away for a longer than normal period of time, let close neighbours know how long you will be gone and provide details about any persons who will be visiting your home during your absence · If you have a second car, leave it in your driveway or arrange to have a neighbour park their car in your driveway · Check all windows and doors to make sure that they are locked · Lock your garage It doesn't take a thief long to break into your home and make off with prized possessions and valuables. Making it harder for them to do so-- or causing them to move on-- is simply a matter of common sense. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) WEB POLL RESULTS Nominations for the Oct. 25 municipal election close in about two weeks. How would you rate your interest in the local campaigns so far? · I have been very interested (55%) · My interest is lukewarm at best (11%) · What election? (34%) Steve Nease Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor Motorcyclists asked to muffle noise Dear editor, I would like to add my support to letter writers Mr. Pomeroy and D & M McConnell on the recent issue of motorcycle noise. I live in Glen Williams, and like nothing better than being outdoors in the Glen on a Sunday afternoon. Apparently so do lots of motorcyclists, as the Glen appears to be a favourite route for a weekend ride. Please don't get me wrong, I have nothing against motorcycles, in fact I like motorcycles, provided they have a factory-installed exhaust system. One motorcyclist riding a machine with modified exhausts can be heard (and I mean really heard!) all the way through the Glen, potentially disturbing the peace and quiet of hundreds of residents. And in the Glen in the summertime, there can be dozens of motorcyclists in one afternoon. As I understand it, the Motor Vehicle Act requires a motor vehicle to be equipped with an exhaust muffler to prevent excessive noise, and that no part may be modified or removed. This section of the Act is there for a reason-- to prevent motor vehicles (and that includes motorcycles of all makes) from making excessive noise. So motorcyclists, please don't stop riding through the Glen-- it's a great place-- just install the exhaust system that your bike was equipped with when it was new. That way, you can enjoy your bike ride, and the rest of us can enjoy our Sunday afternoons. If not, I guess we need a bylaw. Ian Jarvie, Glen WIlliams the morning as she found it in the shopping cart right where I left it. Jenna also told me that according to the information on my driver's licence she had done everything in her power to contact me. I was dumbfounded. I just assumed that my wallet was gone and I would have to go through the agonizing task of cancelling and re-issuing all my I.D. again. It never occurred to me that someone would be kind enough to hand it in and not touch a single thing inside! About two years ago two people stole my wallet while I was shopping in a grocery store in Brampton and I was devastated. If anyone has ever had to go through the process of replacing all of their identification and debit/credit cards, I'm sure you will understand. I can't believe I did such a stupid thing to leave my wallet in a shopping cart, but I truly want to thank that lovely woman who handed it in and for Jenna and the great staff at Price Chopper for their honesty and the extra effort that was taken. My faith in humanity has been restored and I will definitely continue to shop at Price Chopper and tell anyone who will listen to me to do the same. Christine Harwood, Brampton Honesty appreciated Dear editor, I was shopping at Price Chopper on Guelph Street recently and left my wallet in the basket of the shopping cart. It was just before closing. I went home to Brampton and didn't notice that my wallet was missing until I looked in my purse the next morning. Upon realizing that I must have left my wallet at the store, I frantically called and spoke to a lovely person by the name of Jenna (the supervisor). She advised me that a woman handed the wallet in first thing in Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. 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