Lately there has been an increase in vehicle thefts, vehicle vandalism and home break ins in the city of Chestermere. With a population boom, it isn’t surprising that an increase in crime would follow but the latest home invasion in our city has a community rocked and shaken with fear.
Hoda and Malek Birani are the owners of Maleks Hairstyling & Barber in Chestermere Station Way. For years, they have ran their business and raised their family in Chestermere and recently built their brand new home in Aspenmere where they have now lived for the last few months.
Although the home is meant to be a safe haven and where families come together and memories are made, the memories that Hoda, Malek and their children now have are ones of horror.
On November 14th, Hoda left their Aspenmere home around 4:30pm to pick up her husband, Malek, from work and go visit her parents, as her father had been ill. “At about 8:25pm, my alarm company called me to see if I was ok as the alarm was ringing. I told them I wasn’t home and told them to call the RCMP and that I was coming home right away. I needed about 15-20 minutes to get there”.
As they left Hoda’s parents, Malek decided to call one of their friends who lives close by to go have a quick look. “Our friend called us back to say that there was a hole in my wall. I of course said a ‘hole in the wall? Are you kidding?’ and he said ‘nope I can see inside your house'”. Hoda said it was at that point that emotions took over and a paralyzing fear came over her.
At this point, the frantic family were still on their way home so Hoda placed her own 911 call. “They said they dispatched RCMP but they still were not at our home yet. We actually made it home before the RCMP arrived. 20 minutes and no RCMP with us standing outside afraid to go in. About 10 minutes later the RCMP came and we asked him what took so long and we were told that our address did not come up in the GPS as our area is new”.
Hoda became emotional as she described the scene of her neighbours standing out around them and RCMP now on the scene, it all started to become very real. “All our neighbors were now outside with us so we walked around the side of the house and seriously everyone’s reaction was ‘oh my God’… I could see my dining room table through the wall. That’s when I stopped breathing for a few seconds and then we opened the front door with RCMP and all my neighbors and went inside. It was really a sad sight. My walls, my baseboards, my house was destroyed so I just stood there and stared as my wonderful neighbors ran and got boards and plastic and tape and screws and boarded up my house on the outside and then came inside moved my furniture and cleaned up my house and boarded up the inside while just stood there felt so useless”.
Hoda explained that their friends and neighbours stayed till the end and did a final walk around my house made sure she and her family felt safe and them they all went home. “But first thing in the morning they all came back to make sure we were ok. We want to thank all our neighbors and say as tears roll down my face I can’t say thank you enough”.
Hoda went on to say that although the fear of having their home so violently broken in to is overwhelming, a bigger concern for her is the time it took for the RCMP officers to arrive at her home. “My only concern, more than anything, is I know this is a new area and it’s not in my GPS, but that’s not right. It took them almost 40 minutes from the first alarm call and when we called and made it home before they got there that’s really scary”.
Sgt. Mark Wielgosz, Acting Detachment Commander with the Chestermere RCMP Detachment provided us with the following statement:
“On November 14 at approximately 8:30 p.m. Chestermere RCMP responded to a residential alarm in the 200 block of Aspenmere Circle. Upon arrival it was determined a suspect(s) attempted to gain entry by cutting a hole in a side of the residence not clearly visible by neighbours or other bystanders. As the residence clearly had security system notices on the home, it was clear the offender(s) attempted to bypass the system by cutting a hole in the wall using what is believed to be a battery powered hand tool. Upon breaking through the wall an audible alarm and motion sensors were set off alerting police. Though damage was done to the home entry was not gained in this attempt. This matter remains under investigation at this time. Though the Chestermere RCMP has been steadily increasing presence within the community, assistance from the public remains crucial to prevent and deter crimes such as this. Should you witness any suspicious activity please do not hesitate to contact the police. If anyone has any information concerning this matter, you are encouraged to contact the Chestermere RCMP or Crime Stoppers”.
Sgt. Wielgosz added, “Continually improving home alarm systems with property video surveillance is becoming more common which not only is a crime deterrent, but helps prevent completed property crime such as this matter. Cellular backup to your home alarm system is also recommended. If you don’t have a home alarm system, ensure your property is well lit, notify your neighbours of any absences, ensure your house is maintained to give the appearance someone is home, keep valuables out of direct view from exterior windows, and arrange to have your property checked on regularly. For more details on home security please contact your local RCMP detachment or a home security consultant/expert”.
The homeowners found some solace in the fact that they were not home at the time and that nothing was taken, but wanted this message to be shared, “Friends of Chestermere, get out to your neighbors… meet each other…. get phone numbers and watch out for each other. It’s really important be nosey. It’s my house today but it could be anywhere tomorrow… stay safe and protect each other”.
