WATCH ABOVE: Montreal’s overall crime rate is down but there is more petty theft, according to Statistics Canada. Global’s Elysia Bryan-Baynes breaks down the numbers.
MONTREAL – Lasalle residents are on high alert after four people reported they were robbed of their cell phones.
READ MORE: Lasalle residents targeted in cell phone robberies
According to a report by Statistics Canada, the crime rate in Quebec has dropped by nine per cent – making it the lowest of any province or territory – but it seems petty crime is holding steady.
Here are five ways to protect yourself from theft and fraud:
Be vigilant
Know your surroundings and pay attention to what’s going on around you.
Be discreet
Don’t take your electronics out in quiet, isolated places.
IMEI
Save your International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number by typing *#06# into your cell.
If your device is stolen, you can call your network provider and instruct them to “blacklist” the phone using the IMEI number.
Passwords
Make sure to protect your devices with a difficult password.
Find my phone
Turn on “find my phone” so you can find it if it goes missing.
There are also several applications that allow you to delete your personal information in case of theft or if you lose your phone.
Confronting an assailant
If you’re ever in a dangerous situation, Montreal police recommend staying calm.
Don’t try to fight or argue; move slowly and tell the mugger what you are going to do before you do it so they don’t get startled.
Remember to get a good look at them – their height, the way they’re dressed and any specific details (do they have a tattoo, piercing, scar) that will help police identify the thief.
Most of all, don’t chase them; keep yourself safe.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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