These Calgary communities are seeing a surge in break-and-enters, police warn

Calgary police are warning residents to secure their homes and vehicles after an increase in the number of garage and home break-and-enters. 

The communities of Cityscape, Mount Pleasant, Hillhurst and Sunnyside are among those that have seen an uptick.

"Many of the garage break ins were due to doors being open or unlocked, or garage door openers being left inside vehicles that were prowled," said Calgary police in a news release. 

"In the northeast community of Cityscape, there have been seven residential break-and-enters over the past two weeks, and in each case the suspect(s) have gained entry by cutting through the screen on an open window."

Car prowlings

Sgt. Sean Gregson of the centralized break and enter unit says it's important people take steps to prevent vehicle theft and car prowlings. 

"They do it on a regular basis so they get to know these parts of the vehicle where anything could be hidden," he said. 

"And some of the vehicles do have hidden compartments in them that are standard for keeping valuables and obviously people looking for the valuables are gonna check those out as well."

Ease of offence

Gregson said the biggest thing is to remove the ease with which the crimes can be committed. 

"Somebody walking by, if they see an open garage door and there's a bike in there, well it's fairly quick and silent where they can walk in there and take that away and they're gone in a matter of seconds," he said.

Police are also warning people not to advertise the fact they're away, either through the appearance of their home or by broadcasting an extended absence on social media. 

The increase in home surveillance cameras is helping police identify suspects in home break-ins, said Gregson.

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