SURREY — Surrey Mounties say they're seeing a rise in break-ins where thieves are using garage door openers to gain entry into homes.
There have been 37 reported break-ins in Surrey since April where a thief has got into a garage by swiping an opener left in a vehicle.
Surrey RCMP Corporal Scotty Schumann said in April and May this kind of scenario accounted for four per cent and three per cent, respectively, of all the city's break-ins and so far in June break-ins involving garage door openers accounted for 11 per cent.
This rise runs contrary to the 17 per cent drop overall in property crimes and 12 per cent drop in all residential break-ins in Surrey during the first quarter of this year.
"It only takes a thief a few moments to get into your car, find the garage door opener and then have access to your home," Schumann noted. "Take the time to remove all valuables from plain sight in your vehicle, including garage door openers."
tom.zytaruk@thenownewspaper.com