March 5,2026
RED FM News Desk
Vancouver police are warning residents about an unusual method thieves are using to identify apartments that may be empty.
Between Aug. 9 and Dec. 24, 2025, suspects targeted 10 apartment units across five residential buildings in Vancouver and one building in Burnaby.
According to Vancouver Police property crime Sgt. Stan Dy, the suspects entered the buildings late at night and placed a small strand of hot glue in the top corner of apartment doors, stretching it between the door and the frame.
“When residents returned home and opened their door, the strand of glue would break,” Dy said. “If the resident was away, the glue remained intact, indicating no one had entered the unit.”
Suspects would then return a few days later and break into the apartments where the glue had not been disturbed.
Police believe the suspects focused on older apartment buildings with fewer security measures, such as unsecured stairwell doors or a lack of security cameras.
Similar incidents involving glue placed on apartment doors have also been reported in Ontario and Edmonton.
Vancouver police are asking anyone with information to contact the department’s property crime tip line at 604-717-0610.
Loading ...
