MONTREAL - Beaconsfield residents are rethinking safety in their normally-sleepy bedroom community following an incident in which an alleged home invader was shot dead after crashing his car in the West Island town on Sunday,
The event, which left 27-year-old Patrick Saulnier dead and his alleged partner Dany Provencal facing 11 criminal charges, and put police on the hunt for a third suspect, has led officers to go door-to-door giving safety advice.
Beaconsfield police officer Roberto Del Papa said that residents should consider keeping alarms on even when they are home.
"Put lights, intermittent lights, they are very important and good locks are also important. And work with your neighbours," says Del Papa.
Police say the more eyes on a neighbourhood, the more secure it will be. The police are among those who like the idea of a neighbourhood watch.
"Neighbours could help each other out, watch for each other,"says Larry McKinnon of the Beaconsfield Citizens' Association.
Some Beaconsfield residents were more concerned than others about the recent mayhem.
"We all have families in the neighbourhood and we don't want to get woken up at two o'clock, three o'clock in the morning with a surprise," resident Glen Hewart said.
But others were less concerned. "You could worry about them until the cows come home or you could keep living your lives like you always do," said Emily Frank.
