A Cochrane woman was left feeling “sick” after her house was broken into and her car stolen.
“I was just in shock,” said Dixie Kupsa, Cochrane resident.
“I lived everywhere and seen a lot but this jolted me – I feel violated.”
Last Tuesday morning, the thieve(s) broke into Kupsa’s house, opening the unlocked porch door then breaking in through the main door where they found the keys to her 2013 Prius on her kitchen table.
“My sister called me in the morning, she lives right across the road, and asked where my car was,” Kupsa recalled.
“I went to the kitchen and realized my keys weren’t on the counter and my car was gone … I felt sick.”
Kupsa reported the incident to the Cochrane RCMP that day.
Sgt. Randy Pack confirmed that there was a break and enter, and stolen 2013 red Prius reported. The incident is currently being investigated.
“I don’t know if they will find the car,” Kupsa said.
“The police said typically people don’t steal Priuses.”
Kupsa lives on a farm off of Highway 22 and said that it was strange someone would steal her vehicle, especially since it would be hard to see from the road, especially at night.
“No one ever comes to my house and nothing like this has ever happened before,” Kupsa said.
While a suspect has yet to be identified, Kupsa said she is now taking precautions to help prevent any future crime.
“I am getting a security system installed for the house and the door (that was broken in through) is now fixed,” Kupsa said.
“I am feeling sick and actually scared. I keep thinking about it and am I glad the keys were on the counter because then they didn’t hurt me. I keep thinking about what could have happened.”
Last year in Cochrane, reports from thefts and break and enters went up compared to the previous years. In 2015, Cochrane saw 457 reported thefts and 82 reported break and enters.
“This bothers me, it feels like it is on a personal level,” Kupsa said.
“It seemed like it was so easy to break in, I am worried about them coming back.”
If Kupsa could give advice to fellow Cochrane residents, it would be to stay on alert and not be “complacent.”
“People should make sure they have lots of security,” Kupsa said.
“I never had a problem until now.”
