St. Albert RCMP are looking for help from the public after someone attempted to break into a North Ridge home twice in one day last week.
Police were first called to the Nevis Close home at 1 p.m. Thursday, when a friend came to cut the grass for the vacationing homeowners. When he arrived the friend found a man in the backyard. The man quickly ran off and jumped over the back fence, said the RCMP's Cpl. Laurel Kading.
Officers found evidence the suspect was trying to get into the house.
“They found that the hinges on the basement window had been pried in an attempt to gain entry to the home,” Kading said.
Later that day a neighbour noted someone in the backyard of the home and called police. Officers set up roadblocks in the neighbourhood and brought in the canine unit in an attempt to find the man, who the neighbour reported had again run from the scene.
Kading said police tried to control access to the area, in part to help the dog find the suspect.
“We are going to use whatever resources and one of the things is cordon off the area, so the dog can do its work,” she said.
Police aren't certain but believe the same person attempted to access the house both times.
In both instances, he was described as dark-skinned, tall and thin. In the afternoon the suspect was wearing coveralls and a reflective vest. In the evening he was wearing black pants and a black hoodie with grey sleeves.
Neighbours reported that the suspect might have left the area in a silver Nissan Maxima or Altima vehicle.
The case underscores the importance of letting neighbours or friends know when you go on vacation, Kading said. She also said it was tremendously helpful to have both witnesses call police as soon as they noticed something suspicious.
“We are very pleased with both parties that were astute enough to alert police and have things looked into, instead of just assuming it was all OK,” she said. “That type of behaviour by neighbours is what makes us as a community safe and what makes us as community strong.”
Anyone with any information is being asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700.
