Lock your doors and windows, say VPD

While residential break-and-enters in Vancouver are on the downslide, police are asking the public to not make it easy for thieves.

“Year-to-date, there’s been a little over 1,000 break-ins to condos, apartments, homes and townhomes,” said Vancouver Police Cst. Brian Montague.

One out of every three houses, apartments, and townhomes that were broken into over the past two months has showed no signs of forced entry. This, Montague said, means the thieves are gaining access through unlocked or open doors and windows.

“In many of these cases we’re seeing many of these people walking into people’s homes while the homeowner is in the house or in the backyard,” Montague said.

“They’re rummaging through the kitchen, living room, some of the bedrooms, stealing what they can quickly and leaving out the front door again.”

In 2016 so far, there have been just over 1,000 break-and-enters in Vancouver compared to 2,372 in 2015 and 4,535 in 2006.

VPD said these thefts are all preventable and the number can be reduced even further by homeowners simply locking their doors and windows.