A man has been arrested for two early morning break-ins on Vancouver’s Westside earlier this month. The VPD are again reminding residents to secure their windows and doors at night to prevent thieves from entering their homes while they sleep.

The break-ins occurred around 3 a.m. on July 2 and 9 near West 25th Avenue and Dunbar Street. In both incidents, the suspect allegedly gained access to their homes through open windows. Residents were asleep in their beds during the July 9 incident.

“We are again reminding the public that many thieves are opportunists.  An open door or window, including above the ground floor, can be used by criminals anytime of the day – even if you are home,” says VPD Constable Jason Doucette. “These are preventable crimes. Something as simple as making sure your windows and doors are locked can stop a thief.”

A Vancouver resident, 34-year-old Todd Edward Stephens, was arrested yesterday and charged with two counts of break and enter. He is in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on July 19.

Consider joining Block Watch – getting to know your neighbours is a great way to prevent crime. Learn about our Log It or Lose It program and other crime prevention tips to help keep you and your property safe from crime. You can also have a look at GeoDash, an interactive mapping tool intended to enhance community awareness of policing activity in Vancouver.