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December 14, 2015 - 2:37 PM
KELOWNA – RCMP are once again reminding residents to lock their vehicles after reports of theft jumped 35 per cent last month.
Cpl. Joe Duncan says compared with the same month last year, theft from vehicles went from 143 in November 2014 to 193 last month.
“Obviously it’s been a huge issue,” he says.
According to Duncan, there were only 95 reports of theft from vehicles in 2013 but 156 in 2012.
Community policing coordinator Colleen Cornock says from now until Dec. 23 there will be extra eyes and ears at major shopping centres around Kelowna in the form of marked community police volunteers who will report any incidents of thefts or suspicious behavior to RCMP.
Cornock says 25 per cent of thefts from vehicles happen when the doors are left unlocked.
“Those are prime candidates. We need to break through that apathy,” she says. “The bad guys don’t need a lot of time.”
The best way to protect your possessions is to keep them out of your vehicle, or at least out of sight in the trunk and always lock your doors, RCMP say. Keep track of items you buy, and hang onto the receipts, so if they are stolen police can return them to you if they are recovered.
Duncan says they also have noticed more ATV’s and snowmobile thefts this year and warn residents to keep trailers secured at all times. He recommends hitch or wheel locks be used and trailers be stored in secure areas.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015