We’ve Been Robbed!
It had been a wonderful time at the family dinner party the night before. The summer weekend disappeared all too quickly and Monday mornings always came too soon. Arriving in the kitchen for the morning’s first cup of coffee, Rick Smith noticed the kitchen door leading to the garage was open. Confused, he wondered if they had forgotten to close it after arriving home last night. At that moment, Jane arrived at his side. Rick asked his wife, “Did you leave the door to the garage open last night?” Jane was sure she had closed it. Together – at the same time, they noticed the bright light streaming in from the garage. What? Oh no! Then they saw it – the large garage door was open and the place where their truck normally sat parked, was now empty! And the car – their daughter’s car that had stayed parked outside the garage for the night, was gone too! Disbelief, quickly followed by panic, had now set in! How? When?
What Now?
Stay Calm. Call the Police.
If there’s an immediate threat to life, safety, or property, or when a crime is in progress, call 9-1-1. When the crime has already occurred and no one is in immediate danger, call the nonemergency line at 403-266-1234.
When you call, the police dispatcher will come on the line and ask a few questions. First, “are you (and your family) safe?” Personal safety is always a priority! You’ll be asked to stay on the line with the dispatcher until the police arrive. Listen and obey any instructions given to you. It is very important to avoid touching or moving anything until the police arrive, so you do not destroy any evidence such as fingerprints. If the thieves have left anything behind, point it out to the police but do not touch it.
Once the police arrive, they will gather information about the incident from the victim(s), neighbours, and any potential witnesses. Be ready with a list of any items stolen or damaged. They will need relevant information like serial numbers, unusual markings, anything that would help to identify stolen items. If you have security cameras, let the police know as they will want to look at the footage. The Forensic Crime Scenes Unit (FCSU) may be called in to collect any physical evidence, such as fingerprints, fibers, or other items that could be relevant to the investigation.
After the police have finished investigating the crime scene, the attending officers will leave a formal record of the investigation, called a police report. It includes details about the crime, evidence collected, and any suspects involved.
Once the police have left, take photos and make a list of all missing or damaged items. Then contact your insurance company to report the incident.
The Lesson
Rick and Jane questioned; how did this happen? The police officers were very professional and kind in answering. They explained that entry to the garage most likely came from the garage door opener left overnight in their daughter’s car. Once in the garage, thieves simply entered the kitchen through the unlocked door that connects the garage to the house. The thieves then retrieved both sets of vehicle keys hanging by the kitchen door. It took but a minute to load the two e-bikes and chain saw into the back of the truck. These were professional criminals. Quickly and quietly, before anyone knew of the intrusion, the thieves made their getaway.
The officers then went on to explain the 9PM routine to them. A routine that had this family followed nightly, may have prevented this crime of opportunity from happening. As he listened, Rick remembered how he recently noticed the 9PM Routine article in their community newsletter but didn’t read it. If only…
In the End
The e-bikes, registered with the Bike Index, were eventually recovered and returned. A few weeks later, the stolen car was found wrecked in a ditch. The truck, found the next day, had been used for other criminal activities before it was dumped. This story is all too common, however, the bright light in this tragedy, was a lesson was learned. Now, the Smiths faithfully do the 9PM Routine and continue to share their story encouraging family, friends, and neighbours to follow the 9PM Routine.
Keep Kingsland safe, help to prevent a crime – follow the 9PM Routine.
Want to know more? Go to the City of Calgary Police Service website at https://www.calgary.ca/content/www/en/home/cps/community-programs-and-resources/crime-prevention/auto-theft-and-fraud.html.
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