A police force in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has issued a warning about thieves applying glue to condo and apartment doors as a method to identify units for break-and-enter crimes.
A pair of unidentified suspects “surreptitiously” gained access to residential buildings in Markham and Richmond Hill, and then applied a glue-like substance to the doors of various units, York Regional Police said in an advisory this week. This method is used to “scout” which units are empty prior to breaking in.
“The suspects returned at a later time to examine the condition of the glue to determine if the units were occupied before committing break and enters,” police said.
One of the suspects can be seen struggling to open the front door of the building before finally entering with the second suspect. The video then shows them using the stairs to access various floors before leaving the building from what appeared to be a back entrance.
The footage later showed a close-up shot of what looks like glue at the top corner of a door unit in the structure. There were also glue marks on the door jam, suggesting the door had been opened.
Police said the suspects returned later to examine the glue to see if the units were occupied before committing break and enters.
“Owners and tenants should be aware of this crime technique and report any suspicious persons or activities to police and to their condo management or building superintendent,” the advisory said.
Police did not release a description of the suspects. One of the men wore a white medical mask and a cap pulled down low on his forehead to hide most of his face.
The second man was seen wearing a cap and a hooded sweater with the hood pulled up, but was recorded with his face visible in some of the footage. He had short dark hair and a beard, and dark clothing.
