15 break-ins in 14 days: Chilliwack RCMP urge residents to take precautions

Busted door lock. (Supplied)

Police in Chilliwack, B.C., are urging the public to take precautions after a rash of break-ins, most of which they say were “preventable.”

Between May 3 and May 16, crime analysts identified 15 residential break-ins in the city, Chilliwack RCMP said in a news release Wednesday.

That works out to more than one per day during the 14-day period.

Only four of the incidents involved forced entry, police said, adding that “approximately 73 per cent of the occurrences involved unsecured properties or other preventable circumstances.”

Common means the perpetrators used to gain entry included unlocked doors and windows, as well as unlocked vehicles, Mounties said.

“RCMP analysts regularly examine crime data to support police operations,” the release reads. “Their work helps officers identify emerging crime patterns, identify crime hot spots, and track repeat offenders, so police can focus on prevention and enforcement efforts.”

The Chilliwack detachment said it’s continuing proactive patrols in identified hot spots and working to identify and target those responsible for the break-ins.

“Significant efforts are ongoing to both prevent these offences and hold offenders accountable,” police said in the release.

To help prevent these crimes, the detachment offered the following advice:

• Lock all doors and windows, even when at home
• Lock vehicles, regardless of where they are parked
• Secure garage doors and garage door openers
• Remove valuables from plain view
• Ensure exterior lighting is functioning properly

Police also advised residents who are planning to be away for extended periods to consider arranging for mail pickup, using timers on lights and asking trusted neighbours to monitor their properties.

“Police urge residents to report suspicious activity immediately,” the release concludes. “This includes unfamiliar vehicles slowly driving through neighbourhoods, individuals checking door handles, or unusual late-night activity around homes.”