WEST VANCOUVER — When a black bear ambled in the front door of a West Vancouver home, the family fled out the back in the latest incident involving bothersome bruins.

West Vancouver police say the uninvited guest appeared Tuesday afternoon when the family scurried to the balcony of their British Properties home as the outgoing omnivore strolled through the door, left open for ventilation.

A similar incident was reported at around the same time, just blocks away, when a black bear wandered through an open door and into a laundry room, helping itself to some popcorn before quietly strolling back into the woods.

In both cases, the creatures were gone before officers arrived.

In a third incident, a large bear bashed down a garage door overnight to reach a garbage bin stored inside, but ran off, trailed by another bear, after being startled by the irritated homeowner.

Police are urging residents to consider how they store food or other items likely to attract bears, noting bruins are very active at this time of year across Vancouver's North Shore.