Mounties say the Central Okanagan has seen significant increases in property crime so police are seeking the public’s assistance in curbing current crime trends.
Residential break and enters are up 38 per cent so far this year while thefts from vehicles are up 16 per cent when compared to last year, said Const. Kris Clark.
“Fortunately, those numbers have come down from 48 per cent and 23 per cent respectively since the middle of April but more work needs to be done and with your help we can ultimately do far better,” he said.
“When those crimes are plotted on a map, it becomes very clear that no place in the Central Okanagan is completely immune to property crime.”
In fact, he noted, those who believe their homes to be safe might be making themselves prime targets for thieves by forgetting to complete one simple task: locking their doors.
“Even when you are home or in the back yard, your doors and windows should be locked to prevent someone from just walking in,” he said. “Police are still seeing upwards of 50 per cent of victimized homes and vehicles in urban areas being left unlocked, while that number reaches closer to 100 per cent in rural areas.”
A small amount of due diligence on the part of a homeowner or vehicle owner can go a long way in crime prevention. The bit of effort that it takes to remove the valuables from a car or truck and to lock it is immediately rewarded since it is no longer a target to petty thieves.
Locking doors and windows at home can also prevent most would-be thieves from entering.
