A Vancouver woman woke up around 3:45 a.m. to find a stranger going through her belongings in her bedroom.
She didn’t scream, and she didn’t move. She pretended to be asleep until he walked out. Then she locked her bedroom door and called police.
It happened early Wednesday, Oct. 21, at a home near Atlin Street and East 29th Avenue in East Vancouver, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
She lived with roommates. When she called for help, she believed the man was still somewhere in the house.
Police found him upstairs
Officers arrived and found a man on the second floor.
When they approached, he ran into another bedroom. Police say officers saw him trying to jump out a window. They arrested him before he could get away.
He refused to tell officers who he was. They found identification belonging to a New Mexico resident and later confirmed his identity.
A 48-year-old man is charged
Police identified the accused as Daniel Joseph Campbell, 48.
He’s charged with:
Break and enter
Obstructing a peace officer
He was in custody when police announced the charges on Oct. 22. The allegations haven’t been proven in court.
Police haven’t said how he got into the house, whether anything was taken, or whether he knew anyone who lived there. The woman hasn’t been identified.
What to do if you find an intruder in your home
Vancouver police advise people not to confront someone they find inside their home.
If you can get out safely, leave and call 911.
If you can’t, lock yourself in a room with your phone and call 911 from there.
If you come home to signs of a break-in, like a smashed window or an open door, stay outside. Don’t go in to check.
Nanaimo RCMP gave the same advice in February: if you think an intruder might still be inside, get somewhere safe and call police. “Do not try to confront anyone or investigate the scene yourself,” the RCMP said.
This is general police advice, not a comment on what the Vancouver woman did.
A Calgary woman had a similar scare in April
This kind of thing has happened in Alberta too.
In April, a Calgary woman was asleep on her couch in the Bridgeland-Riverside area around 2 a.m. when a stranger walked into her home, Global News reported.
She didn’t know until her boyfriend noticed the front door was open. They checked their security camera and saw a man come in and leave a few minutes later. She said two dog collars and a pair of shoes were taken.
Calgary police said six break-ins were reported in the area that night. They didn’t believe her home was specifically targeted.
Her advice to other homeowners: lock your doors, even when you’re home.
The Calgary and Vancouver cases aren’t connected.
After a break-in
Once police say it’s safe, the RCMP advise:
Don’t touch or move anything until officers are done
Write down what’s missing or damaged
Call your insurer, who will usually want the police file number, a list of what was taken and photos
Fix and secure the way they got in, whether it was a door, window or lock
Vancouver police also offer victim services for people affected by break-ins, including emotional support and help through the investigation.
Sources
Vancouver Police Department, “Stranger found inside East Vancouver home,” Oct. 22, 2026: https://vpd.ca/news/2026/10/22/stranger-found-inside-east-vancouver-home/
Vancouver Police Department, Home security: https://vpd.ca/crime-prevention-safety/home-security/
RCMP Nanaimo, “What to do if you discover your house has been broken into,” Feb. 2, 2026: https://rcmp.ca/en/bc/nanaimo/news/2026/02/4349883
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