Someone's been hitting homes on Hamilton's east mountain. Multiple break-ins across the same residential area, same suspect, same playbook every time. Ring the doorbell. Wait. If nobody answers, force the door and grab whatever's worth taking.
Hamilton Police released surveillance video on February 25th showing the suspect approaching a front door, ringing the bell, and peering inside before making entry. They're asking the public for help identifying the man. Case number 737288.
We're based right here in this area. Force Security has been installing home security systems and security cameras across Hamilton and the surrounding communities for over 35 years. When we see a story like this, it's personal. These are our neighbours getting broken into. And the frustrating part is that most of these homes had no security at all.
The one home that did have a camera? That's the footage police are now using to catch this guy.
What's Been Happening on Hamilton's East Mountain
Hamilton Police Division 30 is investigating a series of residential break-and-enters across the east mountain. Same area, same method, same suspect. The details they've released paint a pretty clear picture of how this person operates.
He Rings the Doorbell First
Every time. He walks up, rings the bell, and waits. If someone answers, he walks away. If nobody comes to the door, he knows the house is empty.
He Checks Through the Door
Surveillance footage shows him leaning in and looking through the front door, trying to confirm nobody's home before he makes a move. He's taking his time.
He Forces Entry
Once he's sure the house is empty, he forces his way in. He's not breaking windows or making a scene. He's getting through the door.
He Goes Straight for Jewelry and Electronics
He knows what he wants. Police say the suspect has been targeting jewelry and electronic items. In and out. Grab the valuables, leave everything else.
This is textbook. It's the most common break-in pattern we see across Hamilton, Ancaster, Binbrook, and really anywhere in Ontario. Ring the bell, check if anyone's home, get in, get out. And a smart doorbell with a monitored alarm system stops this dead in its tracks. Every single time.
Who Is Hamilton Police Looking For?
Investigators released surveillance video showing the suspect at one of the homes. If you recognize this person, or if your own security cameras picked up anything unusual in the east mountain area recently, Hamilton Police want to hear from you.
Surveillance Video: Suspect at Front Door
Video courtesy of Hamilton Police Service. The suspect is seen ringing the doorbell and peering through the front door before forcing entry.
Suspect Description
- Sex: Male
- Build: Medium
- Clothing: Dark clothing
- Facial features: Beard and mustache, wearing glasses or sunglasses
- Face: Partially concealed
Case #: 737288
Contact: Hamilton Police Division 30 CIB at 905-546-3830 • Det. Staff Sgt. Steve Bereziuk at 905-546-3851
Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com
Here's what sticks out to us. The only reason police have a lead right now is because one homeowner had a camera on their front door. One camera on one house gave them enough to release footage to the public. Think about what would happen if every house on that street had cameras. Police wouldn't be releasing one clip asking for help. They'd have the guy's face from five different angles.
Why Ringing the Doorbell Is the Oldest Break-In Move in the Book
This isn't new. Criminals have been doing this for decades. Ring the bell. If someone answers, pretend you're lost or looking for a different address. If nobody answers, the house is fair game.
We hear about it constantly from customers across Hamilton, Niagara Falls, and the GTA. Someone rang the bell, nobody was home, and the next thing they know their back door is kicked in and their jewelry is gone.
A smart video doorbell changes the math completely. Even when you're not home, you see who's at your door. You can answer through the app. You can tell them to get lost. And the camera records everything regardless. So even if someone still tries to get in, you've got their face on video before they even touch the handle.
Pair that with a 24/7 monitored alarm, and it goes from "nobody's home" to "there's a camera on me and the alarm is screaming." Most of them leave at that point. The ones who don't get police showing up in minutes.
Break-Ins Aren't Slowing Down in Hamilton
This east mountain spree didn't come out of nowhere. Property crime across Hamilton has been a problem for years, and it's not getting better fast enough. We just wrote about Toronto's 2025 crime statistics showing 6,092 break-ins citywide. Hamilton's numbers tell a similar story.
We've been tracking these trends for a while now. The pattern is consistent across Southern Ontario. Property crime, especially break-and-enters and high-value theft, keeps putting up ugly numbers while police resources get stretched thinner every year.
And it's not just the mountain. Break-in sprees have hit Mississauga and Brampton too. We also just covered a coordinated $20,000 break-in on Queen Street West in Toronto where ten suspects hit a storefront at 4:50 in the morning. The criminals are getting bolder, and they're clearly not worried about consequences.
That's the reality in 2026. Police will investigate after the fact, but they can't stand guard outside your house. You need something there when they're not. That's what a security system does.
What Actually Stops a Break-In Like This
This suspect has a system. Ring the bell, check the door, force entry, grab valuables. It works because most homes on any given street have nothing protecting them. No cameras, no alarm, no monitoring. The second you change that equation, the whole approach falls apart.
Smart Video Doorbell
This is the one that stops the doorbell trick cold. Smart doorbells record everyone who walks up, send you an alert on your phone, and let you answer from anywhere. The guy rings the bell, you answer from work, and now he knows someone's watching. He's gone.
Exterior Security Cameras
HD cameras with night vision covering your front, back, and sides. Connected to video monitoring so everything gets recorded whether you're watching or not. That's how this suspect got caught on video. One camera, one homeowner who had the sense to install it.
Monitored Alarm with Instant Response
Door sensors, window sensors, motion detection. If someone forces entry, your 24/7 monitored alarm triggers immediately. Our ULC-listed monitoring station contacts police right away. Not five minutes later. Right away.
Smart Locks and Access Alerts
Smart locks send tamper alerts straight to your phone. If someone's messing with your door, you know about it in real time. You can also lock and unlock remotely, so you never have to wonder if you left the door open.
Put all of that together and your house goes from "easy target" to "not worth the risk." That's the whole point. You don't need a fortress. You just need to be harder to break into than the house next door.
"This guy's whole approach depends on nobody being home and nobody watching. A smart doorbell and a monitored alarm take both of those away from him. That's it. That's the fix."
While You're At It, Protect Against More Than Just Break-Ins
Most people call us after they see a news story like this one. They want cameras and an alarm. Good. But once we're there, we usually end up talking about everything else a modern home security system can do. Because break-ins aren't the only thing that can ruin your week.
- Fire and smoke detection that's monitored 24/7. If something trips while you're asleep or away, help is already on the way before you even know there's a problem.
- Flood and water sensors in the basement, near the water heater, and anywhere else water can do damage. One burst pipe in winter can cost you tens of thousands.
- Smart thermostats that help manage energy costs and alert you if the temperature in your house drops to a point where pipes could freeze.
- AI-powered detection that knows the difference between a person, a car, and the neighbour's cat. Fewer false alarms, better real alerts.
Every system we install through our Hamilton office is customized to the property. We don't sell packages off a shelf. We walk your home, figure out where the weak points are, and build something that actually makes sense for your situation.
If They're Hitting Homes, Your Business Is a Target Too
This particular spree targeted residences, but don't think for a second that businesses are safe. Hamilton has seen plenty of commercial break-ins over the years. Storefronts on Upper James, shops in Ancaster, restaurants on Concession. If your building sits empty overnight without an alarm, you're rolling the dice.
A proper commercial alarm system paired with business video monitoring keeps your property protected around the clock. Add access control so you know exactly who walks through your doors and when. And if you've got a construction site sitting open overnight? That's an even bigger target. Tools, materials, copper. It's all easy money for the wrong people.
Force Security builds business alarm systems backed by ULC-listed monitoring. That's the highest standard for alarm monitoring in Canada. We don't cut corners and we don't use offshore call centres. When your alarm goes off, a real person who knows your building responds immediately.
We're Not Some National Chain. We Live Here.
When we say we serve Hamilton, we mean we're actually in Hamilton. Our technicians drive these streets. Our families live in these neighbourhoods. When the east mountain gets hit with a break-in spree, it's our community that's affected.
Force Security is a Canadian, family-owned company that's been doing this since 1988. We didn't start yesterday and we're not going anywhere. Here's what that actually means for you:
- You call us, a real person picks up. Someone who knows your system, your address, and your name.
- No long-term contracts. We keep your business by earning it every month. If we don't deliver, you're free to leave.
- No cost upfront options so you can get a full system installed without draining your savings account.
- Every installation done by our own certified local technicians. Not some subcontractor from out of town who you'll never see again.
- ULC-listed monitoring. The gold standard in Canada for alarm response.
- PowerG+ wireless technology. Most reliable, interference-free panels you can get. Period.
Don't take our word for it. Check our customer reviews or read about why we won the Readers' Choice Award. Meet the team behind the company.
If You Have Information About These Break-Ins
If you live on Hamilton's east mountain and you've got camera footage, doorbell video, or just noticed someone matching this description in your neighbourhood recently, Hamilton Police need your help.
- Hamilton Police Division 30 CIB: 905-546-3830
- Det. Staff Sgt. Steve Bereziuk: 905-546-3851
- Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com
This is exactly why security cameras matter. The footage from one homeowner's camera is the reason police have a lead at all. If more homes on that street had systems, this investigation would be a lot further along.
Get a Free Security Assessment for Your Hamilton Home
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Book Your Free AssessmentFrequently Asked Questions
What happened on Hamilton's east mountain?
Hamilton Police are investigating a series of residential break-and-enters on the east mountain. The same suspect has been hitting multiple homes using the same approach: ringing the doorbell to check if anyone's home, then forcing entry and stealing jewelry and electronics. Police released surveillance video on February 25, 2026, asking the public for help identifying the suspect.
How do I stop someone from breaking in after ringing my doorbell?
Install a smart video doorbell. Even when you're not home, you can see who's at the door and answer through the app. Pair it with a monitored alarm system and exterior cameras, and your home goes from easy target to not worth the risk.
How much does a home security system cost in Hamilton?
It depends on the size of your property and what you need. Force Security offers no-cost-upfront alarm systems so you don't have to pay a big lump sum to get started. Monthly monitoring is affordable and there are no long-term contracts. Reach out for a free quote.
Does Force Security serve Hamilton and the surrounding area?
Yes. Hamilton is one of our core service areas. We also cover Ancaster, Binbrook, Smithville, Dunnville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and the full corridor right up to the GTA. See our full service area.
Do security cameras really deter break-ins?
They do. Criminals case homes before they break in. That's literally what this suspect is doing when he rings the bell. If he sees a camera staring at him while he's standing at the door, the smart move is to leave. Most of them do. And even if they don't, you've got their face on video for police. That's how this investigation got started in the first place.
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