03/03/2026
VPD News Release | VPD warns of “sticky” break-and-enter series
Vancouver – Vancouver Police are making people aware of a unique method that thieves are utilizing to break into homes.
Vancouver Police are currently investigating a string of break-and-enters to apartment buildings where the suspects are using glue. They were reported from August 9 to December 24, 2025. In total, 10 apartment units spread across five residential apartment buildings in Vancouver and one building in Burnaby were targeted and broken into.
“These suspects would gain entry into the building during the middle of the night and apply hot glue in the top corner of apartment unit doors, stretching it between the door and the frame,” says VPD Property Crime Sergeant Stan Dy. “When building residents return home and open the door, the strand of glue is broken. If the residents are away, the strand of glue stays intact, indicating that no one was home. The suspects then returned within a few days and broke into suites that had intact glue.”
It is believed that the suspects have targeted older apartment buildings with limited security measures. These may include insecure stairwell doors or buildings that lack security cameras.
Similar cases involving suspects utilizing glue on unit doors through apartment buildings have been reported in Ontario and Edmonton.
VPD investigators are asking anybody with information to call the Vancouver Police Property Crime tip line at 604-717-0610.
