Calgary police have charged a man after he’s alleged to have tunnelled into an upstairs neighbour’s home.
According to police, they were called to a report of a break-and-enter in the 6400 block of Coach Hill Road SW on Sept. 5. Police said the victim reported she was experiencing ongoing issues with her downstairs neighbour that had escalated recently.
When the victim returned to her residence after being away, she discovered a large hole in her floor, despite the door to her unit being locked.
After further investigation, police said the occupant living below the victim had tunnelled from his suite to hers through an open space behind a fireplace.
Police continued to gather information and had enough evidence to execute a search warrant on a home and one person was taken into custody.
Ben Edward Maize, 46, of Calgary, has been charged with one count of break-and-enter with intent to commit criminal harassment, mischief to property over $5,000 and two counts of disobeying a court order.
“This incident represents a deeply disturbing violation of personal space and security,” said Insp. Keith Hurley of the Calgary Police Service, in a prepared media release.
“The idea that someone would go to such lengths to gain unauthorized access to another person’s home is not only alarming, but it also shatters the fundamental sense of safety we all deserve in our own residences.”
