Vancouver police say thieves are using hot glue to identify apartments to break into. Here’s how.

Vancouver police are warning people to keep an eye out for a crafty new break-and-enter method involving hot glue.

Police in Vancouver say thieves using a crafty technique involving hot glue are believed to be responsible for a string of apartment break-ins last year.

Between August and December 2025, the unique modus operandi was used to break into 10 units across six buildings, the Vancouver Police Department said in a statement Tuesday.

“These suspects would gain entry into the building during the middle of the night and apply hot glue in the top corner of apartment unit doors, stretching it between the door and the frame,” Sgt. Stan Dy said, in the statement.

“When building residents return home and open the door, the strand of glue is broken. If the residents are away, the strand of glue stays intact, indicating that no one was home. The suspects then returned within a few days and broke into suites that had intact glue.”

The buildings targeted were older and vulnerable due to a lack of security cameras and “insecure” doors giving access to stairwells.

The VPD noted similar break-ins have been reported in other jurisdictions in Alberta and Ontario.

Anyone with information is being urged to call 604-717-0610.