Police see increase in break-ins at properties backing onto greenspaces in Ottawa
The Ottawa Police Service believes organized crime groups are responsible for an increase in residential break-ins at properties backing on to greenspaces across the city in recent weeks.
Police say they received reports of break and enters at homes that are accessible from the rear of the property via forested areas, trails and golf courses. The thieves have been targeting high-end jewelry and cash.
"They mainly enter through second-floor windows or doors using a collapsible ladder that they bring themselves or use the homeowner’s ladder," police said in a media release. "They have also used patio furniture to gain access to the second floor."
"This method of entry is all to avoid detection of main floor cameras that many homes have namely, doorbell cameras or perimeter cameras that are pointed toward the ground levels."
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Police say investigators in the Break and Enter Unit have typically seen at least two suspects involved in the break-ins, all wearing dark clothing and carrying backpacks.
"It is believed that they will have parked their vehicles, in some cases, more than a kilometre away then walk to get to their target residence," police said. "They tend to use stolen or rental vehicles."
The break-ins have occurred during daytime and nighttime hours.
"We also recommend that people with jewelry and/or currency use safety deposit boxes, or a very secure safe that cannot be removed from the home," police said in a media release.
"Please be mindful of leaving second floor windows and doors opened or unlocked. Finally, the repositioning or addition of second floor security cameras and backyard cameras is also recommended."
Police would only say the break-ins have been reported across the city in recent weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants
The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately.
LIVE UPDATES Water bottle, protein bar wrapper may help identify shooter in UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing
The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson used ammunition emblazoned with the words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose,' a law enforcement official said Thursday. Here's the latest.
Man wanted for military desertion turns himself in at Canada-U.S. border
A man wanted for deserting the U.S. military 16 years ago was arrested at the border in Buffalo, N.Y. earlier this week.
Life expectancy in Canada: Up last year, still down compared to pre-pandemic
The average Canadian can expect to live 81.7 years, according to new death data from Statistics Canada. That’s higher than the previous year, but still lower than pre-pandemic levels.
The National Weather Service cancels tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after 7.0 earthquake
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast.
These foods will be hit hardest by inflation in 2025, according to AI modelling
The new year won’t bring a resolution to rising food costs, according to a new report that predicts prices to rise as much as five per cent in 2025.
The world has been warming faster than expected. Scientists now think they know why
Last year was the hottest on record, oceans boiled, glaciers melted at alarming rates, and it left scientists scrambling to understand exactly why.
Pete Davidson, Jason Sudeikis and other former 'SNL' cast members reveal how little they got paid
Live from New York, it’s revelations about paydays on 'Saturday Night Live.'
Saskatoon based dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts
A Saskatoon based dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts.