Many B&E’s caused by people leaving doors, windows unlocked: police

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – There’s a concerning trend developing in Vancouver. There have been about 1,000 break and enters so far this year and police say one-in-three at homes, basement suites, townhomes, and apartments are caused by people who aren’t locking their doors and windows.

One of the most common cases is people gardening in the backyard while they leave their front door open.

There’s an obvious uptick in B&Es during the summer but Constable Brian Montague says these crimes are totally preventable. “We’re also seeing individuals who are walking into people’s homes while the homeowner is either inside the or in the backyard, rummaging through the kitchen, living room, dining room or some of the bedrooms — stealing what they can quickly and leaving out the front door again.”

He adds this isn’t happening in just one specific neighbourhood or area of the city but all over. “If someone commits one of these crimes while someone is at home and confronts a thief, you never really know what this person is capable of. You don’t know how desperate they are, you don’t know if that will lead to a confrontation, potentially a violent confrontation. Again, something we want to avoid.”

Montague says thieves are often trying to get their hands on anything to help support a drug habit.
VPD yearly totals for residential break-ins

*2006 4,535
*2007 4,153
*2008 3,567
*2009 2,728
*2010 2,591
*2011 2,633
*2012 2,602
*2013 2,348
*2014 2,276
*2015 2,372

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