String of car break-ins worry West Island residents

There is growing concern among some West Island residents about cars being broken into onresidential streets.

Several residents in Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Kirkland have told CBC, or reported on socialmedia, that their cars had been recently broken into while parked outside their homes.

In many cases, while some items were displaced, residents claim nothing of value was stolen.

"They're looking for something, we just don't know what," said DDO resident RobertWiseman.

Wiseman says his family's cars have been broken into three times in the last three months.

The first time, he says he heard the garage door open, but when he went to see why, he heardand saw nothing.

The next morning, however, his wife's car had clearly been rifled through, andthe garage door opener was missing.

"This is Dollard these things aren't supposed to happen here. We're supposed to feel safe," saidWiseman.

No signsof forced entry

Wiseman and several other residents say there have been no signs anyone broke locks orwindows to get into into their cars.

DDO resident Machelle Wilchesky said her car was broken into only a few days ago.

"I don't think anything is missing, there's no sign of forced entry at all. It's just very strange," Wilcheskysaid.

Last December, CBC reported on phantom car breakins in the West Island that eludedauthorities.

• SPECIAL REPORT |Phantom car break-ins in Montreal area baffle authorities

While the phenomenon appears to be occurring regularly, authorities don'tappear to have much to say about it.

Montreal police confirm they arrested three people last week on a residential street inPierrefondsand charged one of them with stealing items from vehicles. However, police saythe man was simply targeting unlocked cars.

Policehave not yet respondedto CBC's request for comment on car break-ins in the WestIsland.

Relatively safe

Gerry Lauzon of the Dollard-des-Ormeaux Patrol Service says his department isn't aware of anylarger trend when it comes to phantom break-ins.

"It's nothing that we've looked into before or been brought to our attention."

Lauzon says overall, the number of cars being broken into in general in Dollard has gone downin recent years. In 2012, there were 178 reported incidents, compared to 76 in 2013 and 78 in 2014.

He argues thecity is relatively safesince a municipality of DDO's size should average close to 300 break-ins per year.

Still, Lauzon says his service does increase patrols in areas that have reported incidents, andattributes the decrease in reported break-ins to better collaboration with theMontreal police department.