The number of break-and-enters happening in Olds has exploded in the past three weeks with thieves targeting multiple businesses and homes.
Between August 18 and 21, thieves broke into, or attempted to break into, garages at four homes in the southwest part of town.
Police said at one home on Duncan Place, thieves attempted to enter an unlocked garage door to steal beer but an alarm scared them off.
The owners of three homes on Park Meadow Place were not so lucky as thieves were able to take $450 in cash from a vehicle in a garage at one of the homes, two Norco mountain bicycles from a garage at another and hockey sticks and two coolers filled with alcoholic beverages from a garage at the third home.
In all cases, doors to the garages were unlocked and the thefts took place between midnight and 6 a.m., police said.
Police have no suspects but believe young people looking for crimes of opportunity carried out the thefts.
Between Aug. 27 and Sept. 6, nearly a dozen break-and-enters were reported from businesses in Olds and Bowden as well as a Town of Olds shop.
On Aug. 27, hydraulic pumps and other equipment were taken from Fountain Tire at 6210 46 St. after holes were cut in a fence surrounding the business.
A thief or thieves returned to the same business on Sept. 3 and again cut a hole in the fence but nothing was taken.
On Aug. 28, diesel was stolen from Hartley's Equipment Rentals at 6214 46 St. when a thief or thieves climbed a fence at that business.
The same day, laptops were stolen from Central Action Plastics at 6420 Imperial Way but police do not know how access to the business was gained.
On Aug. 30, a thief or thieves cut through a chain-link fence at a Town of Olds shop off of Highway 2A and stole aluminum signs and tools.
Police said a pedal bicycle was left behind at the scene.
On September 4 or 5, thieves returned to the shop and removed red and blue light bars from the roofs of service vehicles parked there.
On Sept. 3, rims and tires were stolen from vehicles on display at the Cam Clark Ford dealership located at the intersection of Highway 27 and 57 Avenue as well as from vehicles at the Mountain View Dodge dealership located near the interchange of highways 2 and 27.
These dealerships have experienced thefts and vandalism in the past.
And on the morning of Sept. 6, a thief or thieves attempted to break in to the Brick furniture store on 50 Avenue in Olds and the Bowden HiWay Golf Course.
Neither break-in attempt was successful, police said, and nothing was reported stolen.
All of these incidents happened between midnight and 6 a.m., police said.
Police believe all of the break-ins to local businesses and the Town of Olds shop are connected and they are asking for the public's help in tracking down those responsible for these crimes.
Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the Olds RCMP at 403-556-3323 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
