City couple awakens to burglar in bedroom

A couple with their children asleep in the next rooms were alarmed to awake to a stranger opening their bedroom door in northwest Calgary early Wednesday.

City police say these types of break-ins are rare but concerning as the home was occupied at the time.

“This is a total invasion of their privacy,” said Acting Insp. Darren Cave. “It leaves people vulnerable.”

Officers were called to the home in the 1300 block of 15th Street N.W. in the Hounsfield Heights area just after 12:30 a.m.

Cave said the intruder entered the home between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 12:30 a.m. Wednesday by breaking a window in the basement.

“One of the residents had heard something but didn’t think anything of it at that time. It wasn’t until some time later when that bedroom door was open that they realized someone was in their home,” Cave said.

The intruder was chased out of the home through the front door and fled on foot. No one was hurt.

“It could have been a lot worse, there’s no question,” Cave said.

The K-9 unit was called to the home but could not locate the culprit. Forensic identification members were also at the scene.

It appears some cupboards and cabinets were opened and some articles in the home were disturbed, but police are still trying to determine if

This is a total invasion of their privacy. It leaves people vulnerable ACTING INSP. DARREN CAVE

anything was stolen.

Cave said this appears to be a random incident, adding he was unaware of any other break-ins at nearby homes overnight.

The culprit was described as a white man, approximately 25 years old, about five foot eight to five foot 10, with a slim build.

He had light-coloured hair in a buzz cut and was wearing a white T-shirt.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

Cave said a properly installed alarm system might have helped alert the homeowners in this case.

He also recommended that residents protect themselves by keeping the doors to their homes and garages locked, their windows closed, and to look out for their neighbours’ homes.

Police said residents should consider installing exterior motion lights to brighten dark areas around the home.

Valuable and irreplaceable documents and items are best kept away from the home and stored in a safety deposit box.

If residents will be away from home for extended periods of time, they should make their home looked “lived in” by putting lights, radios and televisions on variable timers.

Mail, newspapers and delivery items should be picked up by a trusted neighbour or friend, police said.

Calgarians should protect themselves from car prowlings by removing garage openers and valuables from vehicles, parking in well-lit areas at night, locking vehicle doors and closing windows, and installing vehicle alarm systems and vehicle anti-theft devices.

Any suspicious activity should be reported to police.