Police 'fed up' with break-ins and vehicle thefts tied to opioid problem
'I think the citizens of Calgary are fed up with it as well,' inspector says
Police dealing with a rash of break-ins and vehicles thefts linked to the opioid issue say they're frustrated with the number of repeat offenders they're encountering.
"To be honest with you, we're kind of fed up with it," Insp. Mike Bossley told the Calgary Eyeopener on Thursday.
"I think the citizens of Calgary are fed up with it as well — they don't want their cars to be stolen, they don't want their houses to be broken into."
At a news conference Tuesday night, investigators linked the issue of drugs and stolen vehicles to the city's ninth officer-involved shooting of the year.
Police in the past had called the fatal victim of that shooting, 49-year-old Terrence Weinmeyer, a "prolific car thief."
Bossley said the kind of repeat offenders police are dealing with right now are breaking into homes, businesses and vehicles, as well as stealing cars and trucks.
"And all of those are connected to an increase in drug-related crime as well," he said.
Vehicles stolen to commit other crimes
While thieves might pawn what they take from your house, Bossley said they're probably taking your car just so they can steal other stuff.
"If you're involved in the drug trade, or you're involved in breaking into homes, you need to be able to get around and the availability of a vehicle allows you move about the city to different locations to commit those crimes."
Bossley said this is a complex issue, especially when drug addiction is part of the mix, and that police have "retooled" some areas within the service to try to deal with it more effectively.
"We need to do our part from a policing perspective on prevention, education, as well as enforcement."
Public can play role in prevention
But police want the public to be aware that they also have a role to play in prevention.
As part of an education effort, a team of officers visited three neighbourhoods over two days and found 25 unlocked vehicles with the keys in the ignition. Officers knocked on house doors to warn owners about the risks.
"They have access to your registration documents that probably have your address in there, they have access to your remote car garage door opener and we're seeing a connection in that way to residential break and enters."
Bossley added that since many garages are attached, thieves could also have easy access to people's homes.
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With files from the Calgary Eyeopener