The St. Albert RCMP is reporting a rash of thefts over the holiday long weekend, and reminding residents not to make things easier for would-be criminals.
Several vehicles, garages, homes and sheds were broken into between June 30 and July 4, and in most cases the vehicles or buildings were unlocked.
There were 12 vehicle break-ins reported to police, and the actual number of thefts could have been higher.
“Since this type of crime is often not reported, it is easy to believe that many more people suffered thefts,” Cpl. Laurel Kading said in a media release.
These thefts took place in the Woodlands, Braeside, Kingswood and Lacombe Park areas, with items stolen including purses, laptops, money, passports and assorted other items.
Bicycles were also a hot target for thieves, with two stolen from a bike rack at St. Albert Centre on June 29 and three more stolen from a garage in Akinsdale on July 1.
Finally there were several break-ins to homes, garages and sheds that saw all manner of items stolen from their owners.
On June 30, someone broke into a home on Lorraine Crescent and stolen money and jewelry.
On July 1 around 4:15 a.m., a resident on Eastview Street woke up to the sound of the garage door opening, and found a man in his garage who took off running with a female accomplice.
A thief also stole yard equipment from the church on Bernard Drive, another thief stole recyclables from a business on St. Vital Avenue.
On July 2, a homeowner in an unspecified neighbourhood noticed their garage door opening around midnight and found both their garage and vehicle had been rummaged through.
Later that morning, around 4:20 a.m., a resident on Butterfield Crescent phoned police to report a man walking down the street checking vehicle doors to see if they would open. That suspect is described as a white male, five-feet, 10-inches tall, wearing a black hat, white hoodie and carrying a backpack.
Anyone with information about these or any other crimes is asked to phone St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
