Police investigating string of residential break-enter-thefts

Waterloo Region, Ontario – Members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service General Investigations Detectives and Crime Management Teams are urging the public to ensure their homes and vehicles are properly secured at all times.
Over the past month, police have received an average of one to two reports each night of break, enter and thefts in several Kitchener neighborhoods that include Rockway and Eastwood; St. Mary’s Hospital area; and in a radius around Lancaster and Victoria Streets. Additional locations include Highland Rd E touching Seneca Dr, Stirling Ave S, and Mausser Ave; area between Union St. and Maple Ave.; and Belmont Ave/Glasgow St area.
Many of the incidents have been occurring between 2am and 6am and in some cases the intruder(s) entered while the occupants were home. All of the entries have been through unlocked house or garage doors. Items taken include jewelry and other valuables that are easy for a suspect to carry discreetly.
There have been no confrontations and no injuries, but police are increasingly concerned about the potential risk to public safety.
As a primary precaution, investigators urge the public to ensure that the doors and windows of their homes and vehicles are locked and that valuables are removed from plain sight.
Police are also asking the public to be vigilant about any suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods and to call police promptly using 9-1-1 should they become aware of a crime in progress or potential criminal activity.
Police believe that multiple suspects may be working independently and have increased patrols. The investigation currently involves a team of detectives as well as officers from all divisional crime management units.
November 3-9 is Crime Prevention Awareness Week and police ask all members of the community to play a role in reducing incidents of property crime.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519 650 8500 ext. 6397 or Crime Stoppers 1 800 222 8477. For crime prevention tips and additional information about how to get involved, please visit www.wrps.on.ca or www.preventingcrime.ca.

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