NEW YORK– A Canadian actress accused of stalking Alec Baldwin says she’s confident her lawyer will be able to show she committed no crime.

Genevieve Sabourin spoke after a brief, procedural Manhattan court hearing Monday. She was upbeat.

Defense lawyer Maurice Sercarz says Sabourin had a legitimate purpose for trying to contact Baldwin and had a relationship with him. He won’t describe the nature of the relationship.

The Quebecois actress and the 30 Rock star met on a movie set a decade ago and went to dinner together at least once in 2010.

Prosecutors say she sent Baldwin a string of emails this spring imploring him to marry her. She was arrested at Baldwin’s apartment building. A court document says she told police then she needed to speak with the actor.

Article from The Associated Press, thestar.com

NEW YORK, N.Y.– Bret Michaels and organizers of the Tony Awards have settled a lawsuit over a 2009 incident in which he was hit in the head with a set piece and suffered injuries that contributed to a brain hemorrhage.

The confidential settlement also covers Michaels’ claims against CBS Broadcasting, which aired the show and the mishap, which became which a viral video watched by tens of millions online. The Poison front man blamed the network for airing the moment and claimed Tony Awards producers never warned him there would be a set change after he and his band performed “Nothin’ But a Good Time.”

The whack initially left Michaels with a busted lip and broken nose, but also caused brain bleeding. He was hospitalized in April 2010 and doctors found he had a brain hemorrhage and he later suffered a warning stroke, which the musician says nearly killed him.

Michaels’ attorney Alex Weingarten said details of the settlement would not be released. “Mr. Michaels would like to thank his fans for their continued support,” he wrote in a statement.

Michaels sued in March 2011 in Los Angeles, but a judge later moved the case to New York City. The agreement came after a mediation session was held on Friday.

Emails seeking comment from CBS and publicists for the Tonys were not immediately returned.

The musician and reality television star did not state how much he was seeking when he sued, but stated the injury hurt his ability to perform at later shows.

Article from The Associated Press,  The Star.com

O’Connor–Parkview Crime Report

O’Connor-Parkview is a Toronto neighbourhood that is located in the East York area of the city. This neighbourhood can be further broken down into Topham Park, Woodbine Gardens and Parkview Hills. The overall O’Connor-Parkview neighbourhood is located southeast of the Don Valley. It is bordered by Taylor-Massey Creek in the south, Victoria Park Avenue in the east and Holland Avenue in the north.

Topham Park is the area that is bordered by Victoria Park Avenue in the east, Holland Avenue in the north, Westview Boulevard in the west and St. Clair Avenue in the south.

Woodbine Gardens is bordered by St. Clair Avenue in the north, O’Connor Drive in the west, Victoria Park Avenue in the east and Taylor-Massey Creek in the south.

Parkview Hills is bordered by the Don Valley in the north and west, Westview Boulevard and O’Connor Drive in the east and Taylor-Massey Creek in the south.

Schools in the area include Crescent Town Elementary School and Presteign Heights Elementary School.

O’Connor–Parkview Crime Rates & Crime Statistics

The three regions inside the O’Connor-Parkview neighbourhood each have their own characteristics and structure that separates them from one another. There are a wide variety of different structures within the neighbourhood, from high-rise buildings to smaller bungalows to two-storey houses.

Here are the O’Connor-Parkview crime rates against people and property. All rates are per 1,000 living and working in the area.

O’Connor–Parkview Crime

In February 2011, a man was stabbed in the Woodbine Gardens area. From the Toronto Star:

A man is in hospital after being found with multiple stab wounds by police officers in Woodbine Gardens.

Police responded to a call around 9:20 p.m. on Dawes Rd., north of Danforth Ave. and found a man who was reportedly stabbed several times in the back.

In October 2008, five people were stabbed in the St. Clair and O’Connor area. From CTV News:

A fight at a post-football-game party in East York left five people stabbed, including one critically wounded, in one of several violent incidents in Toronto overnight.

The incident occurred at a home on Parkview Hill Crescent, which is in the St. Clair Avenue and O’Connor Drive area, at 10:20 p.m. Police say an uninvited guest showed up at the party.

When officers arrived, they found five young men who had been stabbed. Some were high-school age, and others were slightly older.

In January 2008 a teenager was stabbed in the Parkview Hills area. From City TV:

Police received a call from a woman saying her friend had been stabbed in the stomach and they rushed to the Bermondsey Rd. and North Line Blvd. area at around 6 p.m. But once they arrived authorities couldn’t find the victim or the caller.

Not long after the witness again spoke to a dispatcher and police redirected their focus to the Parkview Hill neighbourhood. The victim was then found lying on the sidewalk near corner of Northdale Blvd. and Denvale Rd.

More neighbourhood crime reports.

Humbermede/Emery Crime Report

Humbermede, also known as Emery, is a Toronto neighbourhood that is located near the Humber River, as the name suggests. The neighbourhood’s boundaries are Finch Avenue in the north, Sheppard Avenue in the south, the Humber River in the west and Highway 400 in the east.

The neighbourhood consists primarily of single-family homes, but there are also some high-rises in the area. Notable schools in the area include Emery Collegiate, Gulfstream Public School and St. Jude Catholic School.

Nearby neighbourhoods include York University Heights in the east.

Humbermede Crime Rates & Crime Statistics

Analyzing crime in any particular area requires a great deal of information and critical thinking. While crime rates generally vary from region to region, for statistical purposes streets are often used as dividers to break up a neighbourhood. This can provide a guide as to which regions have more crimes than others, but it should not be taken as an absolute fact. Criminals do not stop at artificial neighbourhood or region boundaries. For example, living across the street from a region with a high rate of property crime could likely be safer than living directly in that region, but it doesn’t mean that criminals won’t cross the street to commit crimes from time-to-time.

It is also important to take a look at the crime rates of neighbouring areas to give yourself a general overview and a point of comparison. Taking all of these factors into account will allow you to accurately judge the crime rates for a Toronto neighbourhood. Keep in mind that crime can take place at any time, even in the safest neighbourhood, so having a reliable home security system is incredibly important.

Here are the Humbermede crime rates against people and property. All rates are per 1,000 living and working in the area.

Humbermede Crime

In March 2012, a man was shot outside a banquet hall in the Humbermede/Emery area. From Global TV:

Police are searching for suspects after a man was shot outside a banquet hall in North York.

Police were called to 800 Arrow Rd., in the Weston Rd and Finch Ave area, shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday. It is reported that the victim was leaving a dance when he was approached by an unknown group of males.

In October 2011, a man was stabbed in the chest in the Sheppard Avenue and Weston Road area. From City TV:

A man is recovering after he was stabbed in the chest near a nightclub in the Sheppard and Weston Road area Monday morning.

The attack happened just before 3 a.m. at Rivalda Road, near Las Brisas del Mar nightclub. The victim, a 26-year-old man, was rushed to hospital with a single stab wound to the chest.

His injuries are said to be non-life threatening. Police say the victim was approached by a group of men when he was leaving the club. He tried to run away, but later realized he had been stabbed.

In February 2011, a man was shot and killed near Weston Road and Finch Avenue. Also, from CityTV:

A 55-year-old man was declared dead on the scene after a shooting at 2400 Finch Avenue West, near Weston Rd., Tuesday night.

The victim was reportedly shot in the chest at around 9:15pm. When paramedics arrived he was without vital signs and couldn’t be revived.

In September 2010, a man was shot in a robbery near Finch and Weston. From CTV:

A 24-year-old man was taken to hospital in stable condition Monday evening after an attempted robbery at a store near Finch Avenue and Weston Road.

The shooting reportedly took place at a cellphone store where the victim is employed, in the 2500-block of Finch Avenue West.

Police at 31 Division say one shot was fired and there are two male suspects. They say they don’t know which direction the suspects went when they fled the store. There is also no word whether they made off with anything. One of the suspects is presumed to be armed.

In February 2009, a student was stabbed near Emery Collegiate Institute. From the Toronto Star:

A male student was found stabbed in the neck near Emery Collegiate Institute in North York early this afternoon. Police responded to the call at around 12:30 p.m. They found the victim in a field near the school at Finch Ave. W. and Weston Rd. with wounds to the neck and lip.

More neighbourhood crime reports.

Hillcrest Village Crime Report

Hillcrest Village is a Toronto neighbourhood that is located in the North York area of the City of Toronto. It is located just north of Don Valley Village.

The Hillcrest Village boundaries are Finch Avenue in the south, Steeles Avenue in the north, Leslie Street in the west and the Don Valley Parkway in the east. Don Mills Road runs through the centre of the neighbourhood.

Hillcrest Village should not be confused with the small neighbourhood of Bracondale Hill, which is sometimes known as “Hillcrest.” This neighbourhood is located near Casa Loma and is unrelated to Hillcrest Village.

Hillcrest Village Crime Rates & Crime Statistics

Here are the Hillcrest Village crime rates against people and property. All rates are per 1,000 living and working in the area.

Crime statistics in nearby Don Valley Village should be analyzed as well when attempting to get a complete picture of crime in the area.

Hillcrest Village Crime

In November 2011, a teenage girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Don Mills and Steeles area. From 680 News:

Toronto police are asking for public assistance identifying a man after a teenage girl was allegedly sexually assaulted on a TTC bus.

Police report the 16-year-old girl was assaulted by a male passenger Monday on a bus near Steeles Avenue and Don Mills Road. It’s alleged the man then got off the bus at the Finch Subway Station.

In May 2011, a man was shot in the Finch Avenue and Don Mills Road area. From the Toronto Star:

Police are looking for two teens suspected of a shooting in a residential neighbourhood in North York early Monday morning.

A man in his 20s was shot once in the leg in the vicinity of Rameau Dr. and Brahms Ave., near Finch Ave. E. and Don Mills Rd., around 4:30 a.m. The victim said he was shot in Skymark Park, although no evidence of the shooting was recovered.

Despite his injuries, he managed to get himself to North York General Hospital, where emergency services notified police.

In September 2009, a man was shot and killed in the Leslie and Finch area. Also from the Toronto Star:

Sheldon Anthony Henry, 23, of Toronto was pronounced dead when EMS arrived at a housing complex on Field Sparrow Way, near Leslie St. and Finch Ave. E., around 9 p.m.

Residents heard two gunshots ring out and witnesses told police they saw a lone gunman flee the low-rise building’s lobby, heading south on a walkway towards Finch.

Little Portugal, Toronto Crime Report

Little Portugal is a Toronto neighbourhood that is located in the west end of what is sometimes known as “Old Toronto.” The neighbourhood’s boundaries are College Street in the north, Lansdowne Avenue in the west, Ossington Avenue in the east and Queen Street and the CNR/CPR mainline railway tracks in the south.

The area in the west of the neighbourhood, between Dufferin Street and Lansdowne is part of a Toronto neighbourhood known as Brockton Village.

As the Little Portugal name suggests, a number of Portuguese businesses and residents call the area home. Most Portuguese businesses and storefronts are located along the neighbourhood’s major streets such as Dundas Street West and College Street. The remaining streets are mostly residential, with a number of single-family homes in the region.

There are a number of schools within the Little Portugal neighbourhood including Shirley Street Public School, Alexander Muir/Gladstone Avenue Public and St.Helen’s Catholic School. McCormick Recreation Centre and Arena is also located with the Little Portugal neighbourhood.

Little Portugal, Toronto Crime

When analyzing the crime of an area, it is also important to look at the surrounding neighbourhoods to get a clear picture of crime in the entire region. Criminals do not stop at neighbourhood boundaries which are just streets in many cases. Neighbourhoods near the Little Portugal neighbourhood include Trinity-Bellwoods, Dufferin Grove, Parkdale and Queen West.

Here are the Little Portugal crime rates against people and property. All rates are per 1,000 living and working in the area.

Little Portugal, Toronto Crime

In August 2008, a shooting took place on Ossington, between between Argyle and Humbert. From BlogTO:

Ossington between Argyle and Humbert is roped off by police tape this morning following a four car gun battle. According to police I spoke to, witnesses reported seeing two Chevy Impalas and a BMW chasing a Honda along Argyle, down Ossington and onto Queen, leaving a spray of bullet casings along the way

In November 2009, a man was shot in the Dundas and Dufferin area. From the Toronto Star:

A man is in hospital after being shot in the thigh near Dundas St. W. and Dufferin St. early Saturday morning. The victim was in the vicinity of Beaconsfield Ave. around 3 a.m. when he got into a dispute with another individual and was shot, said Toronto police.

Unfortunately, burglaries and break-ins happen quite regularly in homes across North America. In 2010, a burglary took place every 15 seconds in the United States. The best way to prevent burglaries and to protect yourself is to understand where and when they take place and to secure your home with the appropriate security technology.

Renter’s Insurance recently published statistics on break ins in the United States. The information can help you understand how burglar’s think so that you are able to better protect your home, your valuables and your family.

Burglaries of residential properties accounted for 73.9% of all burglary offenses in 2010. Contrary to what some may believe, the majority of residential burglaries take place during the day, not at night. Most burglaries take place between 10am and 3pm, since most people are away from their homes during these times. Break ins take place most often during the summer months (July and August) while February has the fewest number of break ins. Weather is certainly a factor in these cases and the fact that many people take long vacations during the summer makes their homes tempting targets for burglars.

Single-family homes in the middle of a block are more common targets for burglars than homes on corner lots. This is likely because a house on the corner is more easily spotted than a house in the middle of a block. Burglars do not want to be caught commiting crimes and thus they target homes where they are less likely to be noticed.

How do burglars get into your home?

In most cases, criminals enter your home in the same way that you do, through the front door. This was the entry point of choice in 34% of burglaries. A first floor window was chosen in 23% of cases and the back door was used in 22%. Garages are used to enter a home 9% of the time.

Most criminals head to the master bedroom first when breaking into a home. This is usually where jewellery, safes, cash and other valuables are held. The most common places for burglars to look for items in your bedroom are in dresser drawers, desks and in closets. Home offices are also a major target for burglars, as these rooms usually include electronics and other valuable items.

Money, jewellery and electronics are by far the most frequently stolen items in home burglaries.

You can protect yourself from a burglary with strong home security tools. For more information or to speak with one of our loss prevention professionals about protecting your home and your valuables, please contact us today. We have been protecting people and property for more than 20 years.

Weston, Toronto Crime Report

Weston is a Toronto neighbourhood that is located within the former City of York. The neighbourhood’s boundaries include Highway 401 in the north, the Humber River in the west, Jane Street in the east and Eglinton Avenue in the south. Lawrence Avenue runs through the neighbourhood and the region’s core is based along that street.

Weston was once an independent town (named “the Town of Weston”) before it became part of York and subsequently the City of Toronto. Due to this fact, there are many streets (such as Church Street, King Street and John Street) that are duplicates of street names in downtown Toronto.

Weston is home to many small businesses and other services as well as a variety of single family homes, apartments and condominium towers. The area’s main shopping district is located just south of Lawrence Avenue, on Weston Road between Church Street and Wilby Crescent. The neighbourhood is also home to Cruickshank Park in the Humber River valley.

Weston Crime Rates

Like all Toronto neighbourhoods, there is crime in Weston. For the purposes of clarity, the crime rates are broken down by area, using streets in the neighbourhood as boundaries.

However, it is important to recognize that criminals do not stop at predefined boundaries when they are looking to commit crimes. Therefore, it is important to focus on crime in the entire region (as well as crime in the surrounding Toronto neighbourhoods when trying to determine the level of crime in any specific area.

Here are the rates of crime in Weston. All rates are measured per 1000 living and working in the region.

Weston Crime

In March 2012, shots were fired in the Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue area. From the Toronto Star:

Police were called to 1 Hickory Tree Rd. near Weston Rd. and Lawrence Ave. W. at 3:20 a.m. Sunday after residents reported hearing five to eight shots.

So far, police have found evidence of five shots to windows. There are no injuries reported.

In January 2012 a man was shot several times in the Weston Road and Highway 401 area. From the Toronto Star:

Police and the SIU are investigating after a man suffered multiple gunshot wounds at a North York plaza during a shooting involving Toronto police. The incident took place Friday afternoon at Crossroads Power Centre, a commercial plaza on Weston Rd. just south of Hwy. 401.

Const. Wendy Drummond said police were called after reports of a person with a knife around 12:30 p.m. But no other details were available from police as the provincial Special Investigations Unit is now involved.

An SIU forensics van was seen parked on Weston Rd. and at least a dozen police cruisers behind The Beer Store, which is attached to a Subway restaurant and Tim Hortons in the northwest corner of the plaza parking lot.

In September 2010, two people were killed in a shooting in the Weston Road and Lawrence area. From the Toronto Sun:

Two male victims were rushed to Sunnybrook hospital after shots rang out in front of a highrise apartment complex at 1765 Weston Rd., south of Lawrence Ave., shortly before 10:30 p.m.

One victim was shot in the head and the other in the abdomen, Toronto Police Staff-Sgt. Mark Barkley told the Toronto Sun late last night.

EMS staff confirmed one of males was pronounced dead, but did not specify which one. The second victim arrived at hospital in serious condition but died later from his injurues.

In May 2010 a woman was stabbed and killed in the Lawrence and Jane area. From City TV:

A woman believed to be in her early 30s was reportedly stabbed to death near Jane and Lawrence on Monday afternoon. Police rushed to an apartment at 15 Harding Avenue, where the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Initial reports suggested the woman may have spent many hours with her paralyzed son in the apartment before anyone responded to the scene.

Little India/Gerrard Street East Crime Report

Little India is a Toronto neighbourhood that is located along Gerrard Street East. The boundaries of this neighbourhood at Greenwood Avenue in the west and and Coxwell Avenue in the east. The area is one of the Toronto neighbourhoods with the most property crime.

The region is named “Little India” due to the the many Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghan and Sri Lankan restaurants, cafés and stores in the area. The neighbourhood is sometimes known as the “Gerrard India Bazaar,” “Little Pakistan,” or “Little South Asia.” There are a number of events in the region that appeal to the different South Asian groups, including Diwali and Eid ul-Fitr festivals. The Festival of South Asia takes place in July each year in the neighbourhood. Gerrard Street is typically closed to traffic during the festival, but all businesses remain open as usual.

Little India/Gerrard Street East Crime Rates

In the area along Gerrard Street East, between Greenwood Avenue and Coxwell Avenue, here are the averages for crime against people per 1000 living and working in the region and crime against property for 1000 living and working in the region.

Little India/Gerrard Street East Crime

In July 2009, a shooting occurred in the Gerrard and Greenwood area. From the Toronto Star:

Police are looking for several suspects following a shooting in Toronto’s east end in which a gunman lost his firearm in the road when the car he was firing from hit a speed bump.

No one was reported injured after residents heard about a dozen gunshots at a townhouse complex on Walpole Ave., near Gerrard St. E. and Greenwood Ave., just after 8 p.m.

Two men were taken into custody when they were stopped by police as they walked along Monarch Park Ave. several blocks from the shooting. Numerous witnesses who were outside enjoying a mild summer evening watched as a group of people scattered when the gunfire broke out.

In July 2010, a man was stabbed near Coxwell and Gerrard. Also from the Toronto Star:

A man is recovering from a stab wound to the abdomen after a bar fight erupted in the city’s east end early Saturday.

Police were called to Coxwell and Danforth Aves. around 2:30 a.m., where they found the 25-year-old victim suffering from the stab wound. Investigating officers says that the incident stemmed from an altercation at a bar near Coxwell Ave. and Gerrard St. E.

There are a number of ways to prevent criminals from breaking into your home or business. Alarm systems, security cameras, window bars and gates and other security technology are vital to keeping your property safe from criminals. However, it has also been proven that proper design can reduce crime and the fear of crime in a neighbourhood or a particular property.

A combination of security technology and natural surveillance, access control and other techniques can make an area safer and drastically reduce crime. Crime prevention through environmental design is a multi-disciplinary approach to detering criminal behaviour through design techniques.

The ideas of crime prevention through environmental design have been practiced and refined for quite some time. Today these tactics are used in both residential and commercial environments to limit the opportunity for crime and to also reduce the fear of crime in a given area. Urban planners and those designing neighbourhoods and commercial areas such as office parks or shopping centres often take safety and security into account when creating a design.

There are several ways that you can use these tactics to protect your home or office. For example, a key aspect of crime prevention through enviromental design is the idea of “natural surveillance.” This means creating an environment that maximizes visibility and increases the ability to spot suspicious people or activities. This technique can be used in your home quite effectively. For example, you should ensure that your home’s main entrance is clearly visible from the street and that there are no bushes or shrubs located nearby where criminals could hide. Installing motion-activated security lighting over all entrances will increase visibility at night and make it more difficult for criminals to act without being caught.

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