BY RATTAN MALL

ABBOTSFORD Police are advising South Asian families not to keep too much cash and expensive jewellery in their homes following numerous break-and-enters in the Townline Hill area of the city.

The area has had 19 break-and-enter incidents between November 5, 2014, and February1 (last Sunday).

A variety of items have been stolen, but most frequently cash and high-end jewelry were targeted.  The majority of the break-ins have occurred between 5 and 9 p.m. with the thieves usually forcing their way in through a rear window or rear sliding glass door.

Abbotsford Police investigators and the Crime Analysis Unit believe that a small number of individuals are responsible for these crimes.

In fact, Constable Ian MacDonald told The VOICE on Wednesday: “We are of the belief that the suspects live in the area and certainly would have some knowledge of the contents of the homes.”

He added that the suspects seem to be aware of the cash and jewellery in the targeted South Asian homes.

He said: “We think that they probably live in the neighbourhood and they have an expectation of what they are going to find when they get in there.”

That’s why police are trying to convince residents not only to enhance the perimeter security of their homes, “but also give consideration as to whether they want to keep cash and jewellery on hand or whether it might be better in a safety deposit box in a bank.”

MacDonald pointed out that what makes this situation amazing is that while overall residential break-and-enters are going down, just in this particular neighbourhood there have been 19 incidents.

The Abbotsford Police Department is encouraging citizens to report suspicious activity and to be diligent with their home security.  Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call the APD at 604-859-5225, text us at 222973(abbypd) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.