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October 04, 2016 - 11:39 AM
KAMLOOPS - Theft from vehicles continues to be a problem in Kamloops and the RCMP are asking you to not leave your vehicle unlocked.
Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says at least four vehicles were reported broken into on Sunday, Oct. 2, in Valleyview, Aberdeen, Brock and downtown. People reported having valuables missing from their vehicles including wallets, insurance documents, binoculars, a camera, gloves and a jacket.
"Those four (vehicles) wouldn’t have been broken into if they weren’t unlocked," Shelkie says.
Shelkie says RCMP take this ongoing problem seriously.
"Because it does happen so much it is a high priority for us," Shelkie says.
The thefts are included in an analysis police do when deciding where to task resources. RCMP look at where the thefts are happening, which suspects are out of jail at the time of the thefts and may live in the area where the crime happened, and then decide what areas are in need of overnight patrols.
But Shelkie says the first step to keep your items secure is prevention.
More than 80 per cent of vehicles which have items stolen from them are left unlocked, she says, and reminds people not just to lock their doors but to keep valuables out of their vehicles as well.
"If (thieves) know there's payoff to that risk... then they’ll take that risk," Shelkie says. "Enforcement only goes so far, it’s got to be prevention in the first place."
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News from © iNFOnews, 2016