Posted:
(3:10 p.m.)
Halifax Regional Police is requesting the public’s assistance in locating individuals involved in two suspicious incidents last night in Dartmouth
At 11:22 p.m., a man awoke to noises outside his residence in the 200 block of Windmill Road. He looked outside and noticed two people on his property, one holding a flashlight. He also noted that a screen had been removed from a window but no entry was gained in the residence. He contacted police but the suspects were not located.
At 11:30 p.m., an elderly woman heard several knocks at the front door of her Pelzant Street residence. She did not answer the door and did not observe anyone in the area. She contacted police but responding officers did not locate any people behaving suspiciously.
Many break and enters are crimes of opportunity. Although it is tempting to leave windows and patio doors open for ventilation in the warmer weather, this provides an opportunity for thieves to gain entry to a residence. If you make it difficult for thieves to break-in, they’ll move on looking for an easier target. To reduce the risk, residents should:
- Keep windows closed when not at home. Ensure patio doors and low level windows are locked and secured when you turn in for the night.
- Keep garages and sheds locked.
- Take steps to make homes appear occupied while you are on vacation, such as:
- Having mail and newspapers collected.
- Arranging to have grass cut.
- Leaving interior lights on or using timers to turn lights off and on.
- Ensuring your property is well lit.
- Asking a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property.
- Refrain from announcing your vacation plans on social media or on your telephone answering system
If you observe suspicious activity in your neighborhood, try to get a good description of the person including height, weight, clothing and other details. Take a look to see if there is a vehicle parked nearby and try to get a license plate number, make and model of the vehicle if possible.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact police at 490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at http://www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or texting a tip - Tip 202 + your message to 274637.