Lock your doors: Police issue warning after rash of break-ins in south Calgary

Loose change, wallets and purses, iPads, bicycles and even an SUV have been stolen in a recent rash of residential break-ins plaguing southern Calgary.

In nearly half of those cases 49 of a total of 102 since the beginning of March intruders got in through an unlocked home or garage door, or an unlocked vehicle that contained a house key or garage door opener.

Thats why city police are reminding Calgarians across the city to ensure their vehicles and homes are secure at all times.

One of the possibilities is with the changing of seasons, people are more in and out of their patio doors, in and out of their garages, and out of the routine of making sure everything is locked up, said Insp. Scott Boyd with District 8.

Particularly concerning is that more than 60 per cent of the incidents 65 out of 102 took place at night, when people would likely be home, Boyd said, adding a small percentage of cases involved homeowners encountering or confronting intruders.

These types of incidents happen year-round in communities across the city. But there has been a spike in cases in southern communities, he said.

According to statistics provided by city police, from March 1 to May 30, 2013, District 8 saw a total of 58 residential break-and-enters, of which 20 (34 per cent) involved entry through an unlocked door.

From March 1 to May 30, 2012, there were 73 break-and-enters in District 8. Twenty-one of those cases (29 per cent) involved an intruder getting in via an unlocked door.

In the most recent incident, officers were called to the 12200 block of Canfield Road S.W. in Canyon Meadows shortly after 3:30 a.m. Friday after a culprit broke into a home, stole some keys, and made off in the familys black SUV.

Its believed the suspect found a house key in an unlocked van on the property, which was used to get into the home.

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Lock your doors: Police issue warning after rash of break-ins in south Calgary