Chasing a thief
Police release images of suspected burglar who may be responsible for breaks
The images are startling. The suspected burglar is wearing gloves and a ski mask. Only his eyes and lips are visible.
In one photo the man is holding a ladder over his shoulder.
In others, he appears to be slinking around a garage.
The images were obtained from a home security system in Stratford. The RCMP believes the man captured on video has committed numerous breaks and enters in Stratford, as well as others in Charlottetown and Cornwall. Police released images of the man in hopes someone can point them in the right direction.
“The lips or the way the person is holding his body or so and so has that type of jacket — anything that they can see in that picture,’’ says RCMP Sgt. Leanne Butler.
“The public is fabulous for assisting the police ... it just takes the one right person (to provide key information).’’
A Stratford resident, who asked to remain anonymous, has friends in Stratford that have been rattled by someone breaking into their homes.
“It’s scary when you have children, for sure,’’ she says.
“You don’t want strangers in your house.’’
The woman says her home has an alarm system and great care is taken to ensure the doors are locked and windows securely shut.
The RCMP is urging the public to pay close attention to home security and report suspicious activity.
“Footprints that seem out of place, cut screens on windows, missing items and suspicious cars, people, or activities should be reported to police as soon as possible in order that officers can attend and obtain all evidence possible,’’ says Butler.
“The sooner police are notified, the better the evidence collected and the more likely the criminal can be arrested.’’
Since the spring of 2015, RCMP has warned residents in the Stratford area of a string of break and enters.
A task force was developed when the police noted that break and enters similar in nature were also occurring in Cornwall and Charlottetown with investigators focused on solving these ongoing crimes.
Recent incidents in Stratford indicate the break and enter culprit is still active.
In both incidents, a screen was cut on residence windows.