Theft from vehicles and other property crimes still high in North Okanagan | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Vernon News

Theft from vehicles and other property crimes still high in North Okanagan

FILE PHOTO: An RCMP officer keeps watch over the back entrance to the boardwalk in Polson Park Thursday, June 29, 2017 after a shooting. The incident is one of several major crimes under investigation from the second quarter of 2017.

VERNON - Property crime remains a steady challenge for police in the North Okanagan.

According to the latest policing report, there was more property crime from May to June of 2017 compared to the same three months in 2016.

“Despite proactive public awareness campaigns warning of the dangers of leaving valuables in vehicles, theft from motor vehicles remains constant and property crime is up, showing an increase of 1.78 per cent,” Supt. Jim McNamara says in the written report.

Overall, however, the detachment is reporting a 5.4 per cent reduction in criminal code cases over the previous year.

“This spring our officers were kept busy with the local flooding and activation of Emergency Operation Centres throughout our area. Officers assisted with issuing evacuation notifications, established road blocks in evacuated areas and pitched in as time permitted to help fill the hundreds of sand bags needed in Coldstream and the Okanagan Landing area,” McNamara says.

Officers also met with local community groups such as the Camp Okanagan Outreach Liaison Team and the Public Spaces Action Team, which began as a multi-agency approach to harmful behaviours and safety concerns in and around the Vernon library and other public areas, McNamara says.

McNamara says the Crime Reduction Unit has been working hard to address property crime in the community and had some success, including the confession of a suspect responsible for three break-and-enters and the arrest of a person believed to be connected to several thefts.

“(The Crime Reduction Unit) has played a key role in conducting patrols and attending meetings with stakeholders to find solutions to the ongoing problems in key areas of the community, including Polson Park and the Upper Room Mission,” McNamara says. “As a part of their patrols, they interact with various members of the community which has resulted in the execution of several arrest warrants and breach of court condition charges.”


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