A break-and-enter in Barrie’s north end revealed a peculiar discovery by city police Monday evening.
Barrie police were notified by a concerned neighbour of a suspected break-in in progress at a home located in the Cundles Road East and Springdale Drive area at 6 p.m. on Feb. 12.
A glass door at the rear of the home had been smashed, which allowed access to the unoccupied house, according to police.
Officers searched the residence and determined the person responsible had fled the home prior to their arrival.
“Police did not locate any additional damage to the home, but while searching did come across a peculiar finding,” Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said in a news release this morning.
Police discovered an upstairs light was on in the bathroom and the bathtub was filled with water.
“Perhaps the perpetrator(s) of this crime were going to ‘clean themselves up’ and were scared away for an unknown reason,” he added.
A police canvass of the immediate area did not locate video or witness-related information that may help to identify the culprit.
Barrie police suggest homeowners who may be planning on being away or have a home that is not occupied to give it a lived-in look by using simple things such as timers to control indoor and outdoor lighting, leaving a radio on and having someone park a car in the driveway.
“And don’t post pictures on social media platforms that show that you are away,” Leon said.
Surveillance cameras are also a good investment, he added, and can assist police with suspect identification should a break-in occur.
“Crime is preventable, but home, business and property owners must do what they can to protect what belongs to them,” Leon said.
