Two specialized Calgary police units targeting break and enters have had tremendous success over the last six months, but many of the crimes could be prevented.

Insp. Mike Bossley said Monday the units have laid roughly 600 charges and have recovered around $850,000 in stolen property.

“We’re seeing a large number, 50 per cent range, of incidents where homes are unlocked, vehicles are unlocked,” he said. “And obviously that just makes it that much easier for people to access your vehicle or access your home.”

CPS says in first three quarters of this year, citywide break and enters were up 39 per cent from the five-year average and of the 23 daily break and enters, eight are residential.

“You have a role to play as a member of the public, that you can help us,” Bossley said. “Enforcement alone with policing cannot solve this problem. All of our citizens need to take some sort of steps to ensure that they’re doing what they can.”

Bossley said in some cases, offenders have gone into unlocked cars, used garage door openers and gotten inside homes through unlocked doors.

“You can just imagine the impact that has on you as a family knowing somebody’s been in your home at night while you were sleeping,” he said.

Fortunately, he says, the work of the units over the last six months has been “absolutely astonishing” and now the force is seeing a downward trend.

The teams have been targeting prolific offenders and connected cases, while also working with a dedicated Crown prosecutor to hold offenders when they’re charged.

Bossley added break and enters have been increasingly linked to stolen vehicles and drug crimes, although one area of the city isn’t seeing more of the crime than others.

For more on the teams, click here.

Police would like to remind Calgarians to follow a number of tips, to make sure their homes are secure:

– Always remove garage door openers from vehicles parked near your residence. Offenders will often target vehicles that have openers in them to gain access to a residence.

– Secure all of your windows and doors, even if you are home.

– Keep your car keys in an unlikely place, not right beside your door for thieves to easily find.

– Keep irreplaceable documents, photos and items in an unlikely place.

– Get to know your neighbours. Report any suspicious people or activity to police immediately by calling 403-266-1234 or 9-1-1 for a crime in progress.

– Never leave keys in an unattended vehicle, especially while warming up vehicles in cold weather.