A series of break-and-enters in Waterloo Region may be tied to international organized crime groups. The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) is investigating a trend where thieves get into homes through the back of the properties. “There were three separate residential break-ins in Cambridge, all within very close proximity to one another,” WRPS Constable Brad Hickey explained. “All three residences backed onto green space. Investigators are investigating these three incidents, but this is part of a bigger growing trend, not just in Waterloo Region. It’s across the province and the country.” Police said the suspects walked up to the homes from nearby trails, walkways and other wooded areas. “Suspects are attending the locations, gaining access through these greenspace areas, walking in through the backyards and gaining access – whether it’s smashing a patio backdoor, smashing an upstairs window, and they’re gaining access to the home,” Hickey said. In the three most recent incidents, no one was home at the time of the break-in. Cash, jewelry, designer handbags, accessories and other high-end items were reported stolen. Now, police believe these incidents could be linked to organized crime networks. “These individuals are from Eastern Europe, South America, and they are specifically attending Canada, traveling to Canada to commit these criminal offenses, before leaving the country,” Hickey said. Lands Court and Chase Crescent incidents WRPS are asking people living near Lands Court, Chase Crescent, Henwood Drive, Porter Crescent, Weir Street and Baldwin Drive to check their security video for anything suspicious, particularly between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 16. Investigators believe at least three incidents happened in that area between Oct. 16 and Oct. 17. “I was really shocked,” said Donna Simonovic, who has lived in the area for more than a dozen years. “It’s so scary, especially [because] I work from home, and this is sometimes happening during 7 a.m., 8 a.m. It’s been happening now for a year. It’s just scary to know that we’re so vulnerable having backyards facing the greenspaces and the wooded lots and that these kinds of things are happening in our area because I think people think they have an easy way to get away.” As residents remain on high alert, the police have released pictures of a RAV4 that might have been involved in the break-ins.
