Police: Thieves taking garage door openers to gain entry to homes

Ottawa police are asking people to take extra precautions and report any suspicious behavior, after a rash of home break-ins via stolen garage door openers.

Numerous house thefts have been reported in the past two months, Ottawa Police Det. Rick Geist said. The thieves apparently used garage door openers they found in unlocked cars. Geist said there have been “seven or eight” of these break-ins.

The thefts mostly have been reported on the south end of town between midnight and 4 a.m., Geist said.

So far, the thieves have stolen the garage door opener and immediately gone into the house, Geist said. Still, he cautioned residents to reprogram garage door openers if they are lost or stolen.

“There’s always potential for them to get scared off, then come back later,” Geist said. “In at least one of the instances, the homeowners heard strange noises at night, but didn’t call the police because they thought they were dreaming, or didn’t think it could be happening to their house.”

These thefts can be avoided, Geist said.  

“It’s not like it was 20 years ago,” Geist said. “The community should stick together and report any suspicious activity.”

He offers tips for residents to lessen the chance of a break-in:

• Be alert. Pay attention to your surroundings and neighborhood.

• Lock cars and houses.

• Lock the door in the house that goes to the garage.

• Don’t place your keys and other items (billfold or purses) right in the doorway to the kitchen. These often can be seen from outside the house.

‘The thieves might be willing to take the chance and break in if the bedrooms are far enough away from the kitchen,” Geist said.

If you know anything about these crimes, you are asked to call the police at (785) 242-2561.