Police investigating three break-ins

The Calgary Police Service is investigating three separate residential break-ins in the southeast.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., on March 26, 2013, a woman and her four children were asleep in a residence in the 3200 block of 31A Ave. S.E. The woman awoke to her front door being forced open. She gathered her children in one room, locked the door and called police. The suspect(s) fled the area before police arrival. It is not believed anything was taken from the home.

Sometime between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m., on Saturday, April 6, 2013, an unknown number of suspect(s) entered a home in the 3000 32A Street S.E. The suspect entered the home through an unlocked sliding door. Items valued around $600 were stolen from the home. A man was home at the time but slept through the incident.

Early this morning, Friday, April 12, 2013, a woman awoke to a man entering her bedroom in a home in the 2500 block of 36 Street S.E. He fled before police arrived. The suspect gained entry by forcing open a locked door. One bottle of alcohol was removed from the home.

Based on the details of each of these files, investigators in District 4 are trying to determine if these offences may be related.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: tttTIPS.com

TEXT: tttTIPS to 27463

Police take these offences seriously and recognize the effect they have on victims. The CPS is reminding all Calgarians to take steps to prevent break-ins and car prowlings, particularly with the summer months, long weekend and vacation season ahead.

Following are tips to help prevent beak-ins and car thefts/prowlings:

Vehicle theft and car prowling prevention

Garage openers should not be left in vehicles, as thieves can use them to gain entry into a home.
Avoid parking in unlit areas at night.
Lock your doors and close all windows.
Hide your valuables out of sight, or better yet, take them with you.
Don’t keep extra keys in your vehicle.

Home and garage break-in prevention

Keep your doors locked, even when you’re home. Ensure your garage doors and windows are also closed and locked.
Install exterior motion lights to brighten dark areas around doors or windows, to make them easily seen by neighbours and passersby.
Lock all garage doors, including the one between an attached garage and the house.
Always close and lock any windows that could be used to gain access to your home while you’re away or sleeping, even on hot summer nights.
Store important or irreplaceable documents and items away from your home, such is in a safety deposit box.
If you see homes with open doors, front doors with keys left in the locks or a neighbour’s car with the truck left open, give them a quick call to let them know.
Consider installing home and vehicle alarm systems and vehicle anti-theft devices.

It is also important to take proactive measures when leaving your home for extended periods of time

Make your home looked lived in. Put lights, radios and TVs on variable timers. If you’re leaving a vehicle outside your house, have a neighbour move it periodically. Arrange for lawn and garden upkeep.
Either cancel newspapers, mail and other deliver items or have a trusted neighbor collect them for you while you are away.

Always call police if you see suspicious activity in your neighbourhood.

Details of a media availability will follow in a separate advisory.