Three people arrested in relation to house break and enters and stolen vehicles
The Calgary Police Service has charged three people in a series of recent house break and enters.
At approximately 9 a.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, police were called to the 300 block of Sudbury Avenue S.W. after reports of two suspicious vehicles parked on the street. When officers arrived on scene they found three people sleeping inside a Mercedes ML350. A Cadillac Escalade was also parked nearby. Both of these vehicles had been reported stolen earlier that morning.
Inside the Mercedes, officers found property stolen from multiple house break and enters as well as drugs.
Along with the Sept. 13, 2016, house break and enter, these individuals have been charged in relation to four other similar house break and enters dating back to Sept. 5, 2016, in the communities of Patterson, Strathcona Park and Coach Hill. In all these cases it is alleged that offenders prowled unlocked vehicles looking for garage door openers or located unsecure garage doors. Once access was gained to the attached garage, the offenders made their way into the home through unlocked doors, found vehicle keys and other valuables, and left in the victim’s vehicle all while the victims were asleep.
Justin DANNEWALD-STERN, 18, and Savannah SCHMITKE, 20, both of Calgary, have been charged with one count each of:
- Break and enter
- Possession of break and enter tools
- Possession of cocaine
- Possession of methamphetamine
Trey WYLIE, 22, of Calgary, has been charged with:
- Four counts of break and enter
- Possession of break and enter tools
- Theft Under $5000
- Possession of cocaine
- Possession of methamphetamine
Unfortunately, this is not a strategy unique to these incidents. Similar crime trends have been seen through the city where vehicles are being targeted in neighborhoods. The homes are being accessed through unlocked doors and keys are used to steal vehicles. The public is reminded to lock vehicles parked on the street or driveway, take garage door openers out of unoccupied vehicles, ensure garage doors are locked, and always lock the door from the garage to your house.