Cochrane RCMP is warning residents of a safety concern that surfaced after a pair of break and enters between Nov. 7 and Nov. 12.
Unknown culprits entered parked vehicles and removed personal items including garage door openers in order to gain access to their garage.
The culprits open the garage door approximately 12 to 18 inches off the ground to gain entry to the garage; once inside the garage the suspects made their way into the house and remove personal items at random. There have been similar incidences in Airdrie and Canmore, according to RCMP Cochrane Cpl. Mel Calahasen. Calahasen has been in contact with both detachments to determine whether there is a link between these break and enters.
“Right now, we’re not sure if it’s the same people travelling around from city to city doing this or if it’s a rash of people copying what they may have heard about or read,” said Calahasen. “We have had break and enters in Cochrane in the past but this was the first time where the MO (modus operandi) was the same as in other cities.”
Calahasen says the reason the RCMP is informing the public is because it has gone beyond a simple break-and-enter and has become a safety concern.
“The second of the two break ins, these people entered the house when the owners were inside sleeping, they didn’t wait for them to be out or hit an abandoned house,” said Calahasen. “This is when it becomes a safety concern; people may have children sleeping inside and if that were me, I wouldn’t want someone inside my house.”
The RCMP is urging residents to be vigilant in locking their vehicles and to make sure that garage door openers are out of sight or brought inside.
“Whether or not your car is locked, these people have ways to get in,” said Calahasen.
A man from Calgary was arrested in Airdrie on Nov. 12 after he was reported for breaking into a car in the East Lake Industrial Park.
Calgary man shot in face
A road rage incident in Calgary led to a man being shot in the face with a pellet gun in the Wrangler Park Industrial area near Strathmore on Nov. 12.
Cailean Roche, a 25-year-old man from Calgary has been charged with, unlawfully pointing a firearm, two counts of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a prohibited weapon and aggravated assault.
Members of Strathmore RCMP, along with EMS located the victim, a man in his 30s from Calgary, in Wrangler Park and discovered he had been shot in the face by a pellet gun. The victim was taken to hospital by the RCMP and is expected to make a full recovery. Roche was located a short distance away from where the victim was found; he was arrested by RCMP without incident.
Roche is scheduled to appear in Strathmore Provincial Court on Dec. 3.
Anyone with information on an unsolved crime can contact their local RCMP detachment.
