Open windows can mean easy access for thieves in Regina

This summer has been at times a hot and humid one for Regina.

This may lead many residents to crack a window to help keep their house cool.

But Regina police want to remind people that they need to be careful about leaving windows open as it can make it easier for people to get into a house.

Leta Atkinson experienced this first hand in the summer of 2012 when someone cut a screen and climbed into her home in Regina through a window.

Atkinson said that she awoke to the sound of her cats hissing and saw a man lying down on the floor at the foot of her bed.

“I asked him to stand up … when he wouldn’t and continued to hide his face I stood up and then he ran from my room and out the front door, which he had unlocked.”

Atkinson called the police after chasing the man out of her house but they were not able to track him down.

Atkinson said that the only thing missing was some money from her purse.

Atkinson added that the person would have known she was in the bedroom.

“Whoever it was had to have known that I was in that bedroom because I had the TV on.”

Atkinson said that the event shook her quite a bit.

“I actually went and got some counseling, I think I had some PTSD after that, I was quite fortunate that I had a little bit of help through my employment that there was some counseling I could seek.”

Atkinson said as a result of this she is much more cautious about her personal safety and security.

She also said that she never left a window open at night again.

“I got a window air conditioner for those couple nights in Saskatchewan where you need them.”

Atkinson did have some advice for others.

“I think people should think about it ahead of time of what their plan would be.”