Break and enters raising concerns
A municipal councillor says the number of break and enters reported in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality over the past month is raising alarms.
District 2 Coun. Earlene MacMullin, chair of the CBRM board of police commissions, said she doesn’t know the exact reason for the rash of break and enters happening across the municipality.
“It can be anything,” said MacMullin in a phone interview. “I don’t know if we’re dealing with career criminals, I don’t know if we’re dealing with some kind of resale goods, or kids looking for pocket change — I really don’t know the full extent.”
Since Aug. 1, the Cape Breton Regional Police Service has responded to 42 break and enters and seven attempted break and enters in the municipality, within the period ending Sept. 21.
In Central Division (Sydney and area) police have attended to 21 break and enters along with one attempt. Meanwhile, in East Division (Glace Bay, New Waterford area), police have responded to five break and enters and one attempt.
In MacMullin’s district, which covers the Northside, regional police have responded to 16 break and enters as well as five attempts since Aug. 1. MacMullin believes residents, not only on the Northside but also across CBRM, are frustrated with the recent incidents.
“Everybody wants to live in a safe and secure neighbourhood,” said MacMullin. “It’s nice to know that when you go to bed, if everything is locked up, you want that peace of mind to know that everything you have and everything you’ve done is good and the same way you left it the next day.”
Desiree Vassallo, spokesperson for the Cape Breton Regional Police Service, said any number of break and enters is concerning for the police.
“Property crimes are something that regularly fluctuate,” she said. “We often see them peak at various times throughout the year for whatever reason, one reason or another, it could be weather-related, they just fluctuate.”
Vassallo said police have noticed an increase in break and enters, particularly in the last few weeks on the Northside and a few neighbourhoods in Sydney.
Because of those increases, the Cape Breton Regional Police Service has dedicated a group of officers to investigate the incidents.
“There has been a handful of arrests, but aside from those, we do believe that the majority of these break and enters are connected to the same few group of suspects,” said Vassallo. “We’ve increased presence in the targeted neighbourhoods and those officers are investigating to identify those responsible, and also with the increase in presence try to prevent future incidents from happening.”
Residents have been voicing their opinions about break and enters on various social media platforms, especially Facebook, helping inform their neighbours and community of their experience.
MacMullin encourages community members to continue sharing this type of information with the public.
“I’m a big believer in social media and the flow of information,”
said MacMullin. “I would prefer to log into my Facebook first thing in the morning before I go to work and see that on a certain street somebody was rummaging through cars, it might not be too far from my place … it gives people the heads up.”
MacMullin said reporting all incidents of break and enter is important, regardless if those involved get into the property.
“Anyone who thinks someone has attempted to break into their house, vehicle or barn, make sure it’s reported,” she said. “Sometimes people think because they didn’t get in, report it anyway because everything that’s reported helps the police do their job.”
The Cape Breton Regional Police Service has tips for the public to help avoid possible break and enter attempts.
“Oftentimes property crimes or break and enters or vehicle entry or anything of that nature are crimes of opportunity,” said Vassallo. “The biggest piece of advice is to keep your doors locked and keep your valuables out of plain sight.
“Keep an eye out for your neighbour. If you see any suspicious people, vehicles or activity in your neighbourhood, contact police as soon as you can so we can respond and keep track of where these incidents are happening.”
The Cape Breton Regional Police Service is continuing to investigate break and enters across the municipality.
Anyone with information, or who witnesses any suspicious activity, is asked to contact regional police at 902-563-5151 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 902-562-8477 or 1-800-222-8477.