Kemano Street in North Kamloops has been hit with vandalism and a home invasion in last three months.

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(JESSICA WALLACE / iNFOnews.ca)

RMCP are saying two incidents on Kemano Street in the last three months are unrelated.

The street was one of three in a North Shore neighbourhood hit by a random tire slashing incident in November, resulting in 25 vandalized vehicles. Last night, a house was targeted in a home invasion at about 1:20 a.m. on the same street.

"There's no indication of those two being related," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Grant Learned.

RCMP are saying the individuals involved in the home invasion knew each other and that the incident involving four masked suspects entering the residence and stealing a variey of goods was targeted.

"It still doesn't take away from any victimization," he said.

Learned was unaware of the total value of the goods stolen from the home.

"The full list is still being compiled by the victims," he said. "It takes sometimes a bit of time for individuals to take inventory."

One man was taken to Royal Inland Hospital after sustaining non-life threatening injuries from being punched.

"It was on a balance of precaution because of the blows to the head," Learned said.

While the incidents have been deemed separate, the location may not be such a coincidence.

"I don't know the area that well but there have been other events of this nature that have occurred in the past and the preponderance of them have occurred on the North Shore," Learned said, adding that there is a higher influx of low income housing catering to fixed incomes and those who face addiction.

"There are pockets like that on the North Shore where we do sort of have a higher demand," he said. "In saying that I want to be clear that that's not casting any aspersions on the North Shore because that is just too broad."

Despite the two recent incidents, RCMP are deeming the most recent one targeted.

"You contrast that with an incident where it could have been absolutely random, with no connection whatsoever, this is not the case," Learned said.

"While it may be cold comfort to the victims of this particular incident, it does give some measure or piece of mind to other residents in the area."

While he didn't have information regarding whether the home was entered forcibly, he encourages Kamloops residents to take extra precautions when it comes to household safety.

"In a lot of small communities people don't lock their doors," Learned said. "(I don't know) whether it's the lack of awareness over the value of their property to someone who needs money to support substance addiction or there is this nativity or an overabundance of good will and trust."

"We've told and advocated for years to keep your doors locked even when you're in your house," Learned said. "It just prevents someone who is unsuspected and uninvited from just walking into your house."

— Jessica Wallace
jwallace@infotelnews.ca
(250)319-7494

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