The Yonge & St. Clair neighbourhood is also known as Deer Park. As the name suggests, this Toronto neighbourhood is centered around the intersection of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue. The neighbourhood’s boundaries are Avenue Road in the west, Mount Pleasant Road in the east, Farnham Avenue and Jackes Avenue in the south and Belt Line Trail and Glen Elm Avenue in the north. Crime against people in the neighbourhood is quite low and there is an average amount of crime against property in the area. In the area bordered by St. Clair Avenue, Yonge Street, Avenue Road and Farnham Avenue, there is an average of 1.14 crimes against people per 1000 living and working in the area. There is an average of 11.58 crimes against property. North of St. Clair to Belt Line Trail and Frobisher Drive, between Yonge Street and Avenue Road/Oriole Parkway, there is an average of 2.81 crimes against people and 7.99 crimes against property. In the area west of St. Clair to David A. Balfour Park, Between Glen Elm Avenue and Jackes Avenue, there is an average of 2.81 crimes against people and 15.88 crimes against property. East of David A. Balfour Park to Mount Pleasant Road, there is an average of 0 crimes against people and 12.01 crimes against property. In July 2008, a man was stabbed to death in the Yonge and St. Clair area. From the CBC News:
Toronto homicide detectives are seeking two suspects after a man was stabbed to death near Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue on Monday night. It is the 30th homicide in the city this year. A witness told police that two men wearing hooded sweatshirts kicked in an apartment door and stabbed the victim. The attack happened in a highrise apartment on Delisle Avenue just before 11 p.m. ET. The victim was 64 years old.
In June 2010, two suspects robbed a grocery store in the St. Clair and Mount Pleasant area. When police arrived the two suspects fired shots and drove away. From 680 News:
Police said the suspects robbed a grocery store in the Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue West area before driving up to Yonge and St. Clair where they were confronted by police. The suspects took off on foot and officers reported hearing sounds of gunshots, although no officers were wounded. Police confirmed one shot was fired, but were unable to say who fired it or who the target was.
Unfortunately criminals are often unpredictable and therefore  you can rarely anticipate when you may become a victim of a crime. However, if you are vigilant and observe your surroundings at all times, you can avoid becoming a part of a potentially dangerous situation. If you feel that something is wrong, trust your instincts and remove yourself from the area as soon as you can do so safely. You can also take several security precautions in order to protect yourself. In the first example of the murder that started with a door being kicked down, having a security system and a stronger door may have saved the day. Door’s should always be dead bolted and you should ensure that the hinges and frames are all strong and secure. If there are any security flaws with your door, you should repair or replace the door as soon as possible. This goes for all entry points to your home, including your windows. For more information on how you can keep your home safe, or for a free risk assessment, please contact our team of security professionals today.