Whatever happened to that feeling of safety?

A lot of people no longer feel safe in North Bay.

That was the main theme from similar experiences people shared with me after I revealed my unsettling experience about what happened Tuesday evening at the corner of Cassells and O’Brien Streets.

I was parked at the Circle K around 8:30 p.m. I had grabbed a bag of milk after a workout at the YMCA.

A man around 20 to 25 years of age, with red hair, scruffy beard around five-foot seven to five-foot eight tall, wearing brown clothes approached my car and opened the passenger side door.

As soon as I heard the door open I turned my head in his direction and told him to shut the door and back away from my vehicle.

I admit I used some vulgar language to get my point across.

He then tried again. That’s when I locked my doors. He proceeded to yell at me to give him a ride. I backed my vehicle up and left the area.

I was never fearful for my life, just surprised that someone would be so brazen during daylight hours in a busy area of town. The experience certainly forced me to be more diligent about my personal safety.

I decided to share the experience on multiple social media platforms as a way to alert people.

The response was overwhelming. I received several tips on how to keep myself safe from automatic locks in my vehicle to pepper spray to carrying a bat in my backseat.

But what was most startling and evident from the hundreds of comments was the fear people have living in North Bay.

Numerous women have stated they’re scared to go out for a walk at night. Others said they avoid certain areas because of the increase in crime in that particular area.

“I try not to go out after dark now. It’s crazy in my late teens early 20s I walked all over town, back home from the bars to friend’s homes, but now I’m scared to let my dog out,” said one woman who shared her thoughts on Facebook.

Another woman said she was followed downtown at noon.

“I had a man follow me to my car yelling ‘are you 18?’ I slammed the door and locked it just as he tried to open it.”

Another woman said my experience occurred the same night that her stroller was stolen and all cut up.

“I walked home from the waterfront and I had a guy on a bike around me go to a dark spot and wait until I walked by. North Bay is sketchy . . . not a fun place at night for women at all.”

Comment after comment, people said this community has changed and their personal safety is something they are worried and concerned about.

But it’s not just women who are fearful.

Men also shared that they avoid areas and are often watching their backs.

David Woolley, spokesperson for the North Bay Police Service confirmed police have received complaints about similar incidents to mine, “however they are very rare.”

When asked what people can do to keep themselves safe, Woolley said to keep your vehicle doors locked at all times, immediately call 9-1-1, use your car’s horn to draw attention to yourself and potentially scare off the perpetrator, if you can safely leave the area in your vehicle do so and always report these incidents to the North Bay police.

If the incident is in progress, call 9-1-1. If the individual has left or you have been able to leave the area, call 705-472-1234.

North Bay police have seen an increase in the number of calls for service.

In March, which is the most recent statistics provided by police, there were 2,993 calls for service in 2021, an increase of 204 calls compared to the same time in 2020.

Every area, violent crime, property crime, social disorder, traffic and other calls have all seen increases in March 2021 compared to 2020, except drug related offences. In 2020 there were 28 calls compared to 25 this year.