Police warn of importance of locking doors after 3 Calgarians arrested

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) is using to a recent crime spree as an opportunity to remind Calgarians to be more diligent in protecting their property.

Three people have been charged in connection to a number of house break and enters that happened between Sept. 13 and Sept. 5. Police allege the offenders prowled unlocked vehicles looking for garage door openers or found unsecured garage doors. CPS said once the offenders were able to get into the garages, they made their way into the homes through unlocked doors where they found vehicle keys and other valuables – all while the victims were asleep.

The crimes all occurred in the communities of Patterson, Strathcona Park and Coach Hill.

Early Tuesday morning police were called to the 300 block of Sudbury Avenue S.W. after reports of two suspicious vehicles parked on the street.

In a news release Thursday, police reported finding three people asleep inside one of the vehicles, a Mercedes ML 350, that had been reported stolen earlier that morning.

Police said they found drugs inside the Mercedes as well as property that had been stolen from a number of house break-ins nearby.

CPS said they found a Cadillac Escalade parked nearby that had also been reported stolen earlier that morning.

Police are warning the public this type of crime is being committed throughout the city of Calgary, where offenders will access homes and vehicles through unlocked doors.

Justin Dannewald-Stern, 18, and Savannah Schmitke, 20, both from Calgary, have been charged with one count each of break and enter, possession of break and enter tools, possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine.

Trey Wylie, 22, of Calgary is facing four counts of break and enter, possession  of break and enter tools, theft under $5,000, possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine.