The Regina Police Service is urging Regina residents to securely lock their garages and take garage door openers out of cars parked on the street or driveway. Reports of garage break and enters have been climbing: from January 1 to June 28, 2018, there have been approximately 363 garage break and enters reported, which is an increase of 22% for the same time-frame in 2017. While reports of garage break and enters are spread throughout the city, data shows the Rosemont-Mount Royal neighbourhood as a particular target for thieves.
Investigations into many of these garage break and enters have led to arrests; however; arresting and charging offenders is only part of the solution. There are a number of proactive strategies that residents can execute to help prevent garage break and enters:
• Securely lock all garage doors; both outside doors and the attached doors that lead into your house;
• Remove garage door openers from cars parked on the street or driveway. To thieves, that small piece of plastic is the key to a treasure trove of valuables, and maybe even access to your house through an attached garage;
• Assess the condition of garage doors. A weak or damaged door or lock could be easily forced open;
• Install motion sensor lights by your driveway/doors.
There is no solution that is 100% effective in eliminating crime. Prevention, which discourages potential thieves, takes only minutes; the separation from your property might be permanent. Anyone who sees suspicious activity is encouraged to call the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500. If you see a crime in progress, call 9-1-1.