In the quiet town of Carstairs, Alberta, a shadowy figure has unsettled residents with a string of stealthy home invasions. Late one October night, someone dressed entirely in white slipped through backyards and crawled over fences, moving from one property to the next while its occupants slept. The person, now dubbed the “Carstairs Creeper,” has struck multiple times, choosing unlocked doors and easy targets rather than grand heists, according to RCMP.

Security footage shared by residents shows the creeper in a full-body outfit — gloves, head covering, and footwear in mismatched colours — giving the impression of a costume more than a criminal. One homeowner, who checked her yard only after a neighbour’s footage showed unusual movement, discovered evidence of rummaging in her storage shed. In another break-in, the intruder even helped themselves to a child’s school lunch left out on a counter.

RCMP describe the incidents as opportunistic thefts, emphasizing their reactive posture: investigators often only become aware of the suspect’s presence after the fact. Officers have had “encounters” with someone matching the description, but despite the community’s vigilance and shared camera footage, no arrest has been made.

As fear mounts among the roughly 3,000 residents, advice from law enforcement discourages any attempt at vigilantism. There’s concern the individual may be armed, and police warn that any attempt by residents to intervene could make the situation more dangerous. Instead, RCMP are calling on the public to submit any surveillance recordings, no matter how small, to help piece together the person’s movements.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Carstairs has shifted. Households that once left doors unlocked or blinds open no longer feel so safe. The sense of familiarity that comes with small-town living has been replaced by unease and a heightened awareness: someone is watching, moving in the night, and residents now live with one eye on the shadows.