The RCMP is warning homeowners about a worrying trend they believe they have discovered in a string of recent break-ins.
Since the May long weekend, the RCMP have responded to 11 separate break-ins, which while not unusual for May, is a higher number than previous months.
St. Albert RCMP Cpl. Laurel Kading said the thieves have broke into the homes in similar ways and similar items were stolen.
"We can't say for sure that we have the same person doing all of them, but there [are] enough consistencies that we are certainly co-ordinating the investigations on all of them."
At least six of the break-ins happened to homes where RVs are usually parked in the driveway. Kading said police believe the thieves might be scouting their locations, looking for visual signs that home occupants are away, like RVs that are gone.
"We have no proof of that, but that is something that we are wondering about."
Given that potential link, the police are hoping residents will keep an eye out for slow-moving vehicles or suspicious people in the neighbourhood who might be scouting future targets.
She said if something seems strange our out of place, police would much rather check it out than not hear about it.
Kading said there have been break-ins in every part of the city, but the neighbourhoods in the northwest — North Ridge, Lacombe Park and Mission Hill — have seen clusters.
Taking precautions
Based on the news, the RCMP are hoping people will take more precautions before travelling to help make their homes less inviting to thieves.
One of the best things people can do is to get to know their neighbours and arrange for them to pick up mail and help make the home look occupied while people are away, Kading said.
It could also help police catch thieves because in many cases the incidents haven't been reported until the family returned home, she added.
"We are hoping that if people engage their neighbour, we will get the calls either when something happens or very shortly thereafter."
Kading said people can use light timers and other devices to give the appearance of being home and she also recommended people considering trimming back trees and bushes just enough that the home can be seen from the street.
"You want to make it look lived in, you want to make it look like if there isn't anyone there right now, then maybe they have just gone to the store."
Businesses hit
The police are also looking for help with a business break-in at the Mission Hill Plaza. Sometime between noon Saturday and 8:45 a.m. Monday someone broke into the second floor of the complex, breaking into four of the seven businesses there.
There were pry marks on the doors of the other businesses, but only four were entered. Electronics and small amounts of cash were taken.
Anyone with any information on these or other crimes is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700.
