Residents in Ottawa's west end said they're afraid for their belongings after flooding has forced them to drag the contents of their homes onto their front lawns. (Julia Kilpatrick/CBC)

An independent auditor should look at the way Ottawa officials handled the effects of a rainstorm over the weekend in the city's west end, say some Kanata residents.

Heavy rain Friday caused sewage to leak into some basements, which has left residents in both Kanata's Glen Cairn neighbourhood and Stittsville wondering how to cope with the damage and their soggy belongings.

Some residents, however, have said they're not only worried about cleaning their belongings, but also about keeping them away from looters.

"[The city] promised us cops to patrol the streets," said Steve Robinson, who lives on Dundegan Drive in Glen Cairn, one of the hardest-hit streets, where a pile of debris now sits at the end of every driveway.

Robinson said he and his neighbours have seen people come by at night with trailers, prowling for salvageable furniture.

Const. Alain Boucher, who speaks for Ottawa police, said officers have been asked to pay special attention to neighbourhoods that have experienced flooding.

"We've asked our officers to increase their patrols of the affected area, and we also encourage people to respect the homes of the people who have been affected," he said.

Robinson and his neighbours have said that until each item has been counted and documented, they will continue to stand guard over the wreckage.