Locking your doors and windows is best practice for everyone, but London police are especially encouraging students living around Western University and Fanshawe College to secure their homes after a series of brazen break-ins.
Officers initially sounded the alarm about break-ins targeting student homes in October after two incidents where suspects were found in basements. In each case, suspects were chased away from the home in question and they joined up with large groups of people.
RELATED: Student-occupied homes targeted in unusual east London break-ins
Investigators say there have been several more cases over the past two weeks, the most recent happened around 12:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Officers say the resident of a home on Patricia Street in the Western area invited friends over but noticed two females who weren’t invited were in the home.
The resident asked them to leave and at that point officers say one of the suspects assaulted one of the residents and a large group of people then forced their way in and a large fight ensued.
RELATED: 7 charged in break-in that left London man dead
When officers arrived at the scene the suspects were gone, but they found one victim with minor injuries.
“While we know that homes that are occupied by students are being targeted, the previous incidents were only in the area of Fanshawe College,” said Det. Sgt. Blair Harvey of the Street Crime Unit in a statement on Wednesday.
“The incident this past weekend was in the area of Western University which means that all post-secondary students in our community need to be extra vigilant.”
The investigation into Saturday’s incident is ongoing and anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the London Police Service at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Comments