'Suspicious' glue thieves now targeting residents in New Westminster
A sticky method used by thieves to break into apartment buildings has been discovered by residents in New Westminster, the second city in the region to be hit by the “suspicious” activity.
In a public advisory released on Friday, March 6, the New Westminster Police Department (NWPD) urged residents to be on the alert.
This comes after glue markings were found on apartment doors in a multi-family building located on the 200 block of 11th Street.
New Westminster Police Department
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“Residents in the building reported finding small strands of glue placed between apartment doors and their frames across nine different floors,” said NWPD in a release. “The discovery was made after residents read a media release from the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) describing a method thieves have been using to identify vacant apartments.”
The VPD public warning issued on Tuesday, March 3, revealed that it is currently investigating a string of break-and-enters at several apartment buildings across the city, where the suspects are using glue to gain access.
Ten apartment units across five residential apartment buildings in Vancouver and one building in Burnaby were targeted by thieves and broken into from August to December of last year, according to the VPD.
“Credit goes to the VPD for quickly sharing information about this crime trend,” said NWPD Sergeant Andrew Leaver in a statement.
“Residents here in New Westminster read that information, talked with their neighbours, and then checked their own building.”
New Westminster Police Department
Police added that the glue-related incidents spotlight how information sharing from official sources can help communities keep ahead of emerging crime trends.
NWPD officers attended the building where the glue markings were found, and are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
In the meantime, police are asking residents to be mindful of any unusual markings or materials, like glue or tape, placed near their doors.
Police are also asking any resident who notices suspicious activity or thinks that their home may have been targeted to contact the NWPD at 604-525-5411.