Police are investigating two new residential break and enters that happened in the community of Auburn Bay while the residents were asleep.

Police say two separate break-ins occurred in the southeast neighbourhood on Wednesday at 4:00 a.m.

In the first incident, a garage door opener was taken from the inside of an unlocked vehicle on the property.

The suspect(s) then entered the home through the interior garage door and proceeded to steal personal items.

Police say a woman was alone and asleep on a couch on the main floor when the home was broken into and did not know what had happened until she woke up.

In the second case, the suspect(s) took items from a vehicle parked in the alley behind the home and then used a tool to force entry into the residence.

Police say a family with young children was asleep inside at the time.

They say the suspect(s) were removing personal items when the homeowner confronted one of them and the offender(s) fled the scene.

Police say a number of other nighttime break-ins have happened in the south part of the city where the residents have been home at the time of the crime.

The suspect(s) are using garage door openers from inside parked vehicles and gaining entry into the homes through interior doors in many of these cases.

Police say break-ins like this can happen anywhere but they are noticing a trend in the communities of Chaparral, Copperfield, Auburn Bay, Mahogany and Silverado over the last month.

Calgary police have a few reminders to help deter this type of crime:

  • Lock vehicle doors: whether they are parked on the street or garage
  • Ensure all doors and windows to the residence and garage are locked
  • Don’t leave items in plain view in your vehicle
  • Remove your garage door remote
  • Consider installing an aftermarket car alarm if your vehicle is not already equipped with one

Police are asking anyone with information on these south Calgary incidents to call them at 403-266-1234, Sgt. Garth Kowalyk of District 8 at 403-567-6800 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:
 
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: tttTIPS.com
TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637