RCMP files: Thefts and break-ins plague Penticton

Police are once again warning people not to leave items containing sensitive information in their vehicles.

Police are once again warning people not to leave items such as credit cards, identification or electronic devices containing sensitive information in vehicles after separate incidents in the past week.

Read more: Vehicle break in at Skaha Bluffs

The most serious happened sometime overnight on Oct. 4 when a black 2012 GMC Acadia was taken from in front of a residence on Westwood Drive in Penticton.

According to Dellebuur, the owner had just returned from a trip and along with numerous belongings inside the vehicle, wallets with identification, a credit card and an iPad were taken.

Police received a follow-up call reporting the Visa credit card had been used in Summerland and later a quantity of cash was transferred from the complainant’s account using the iPad.

The amount was believed to be in excess of $1,000.  At the time the vehicle had about three quarters of a tank of gas.

“It’s the old thing,” said Dellebuur. “Don’t leave your property in your motor vehicles. So this is a very good point when we talk about you talk about having online banking on your phones and iPads and you leave them so that people can access them next thing is they’re transferring money from there.”

In another similar incident, overnight on Oct. 7, identification, credit cards and a small quantity of cash were taken from a 2000 Chevy Malibu parked on Churchill Avenue.

Guitar theft

Police are investigating the reported, Oct. 6 overnight break in at Classic Guitars at 465 Main St.

It is believed at least one guitar was taken. Entry was gained by breaking the front, glass door.

Tools stolen

An investigation is underway into a reported break in at the B.C. EcoChips property on Weyerhaeuser Road in Okanagan Falls overnight Oct. 5.

Police say a quantity of tools and equipment valued at $5,000 was taken from two containers.

Thieve(s) are believed to have entered the property on foot as the gates were still locked in the morning the theft was discovered.

Vehicle thefts

One vehicle was stolen and another broken into overnight on Oct. 8 at the Bambury Green RV Park and Campground in Kaleden.

The stolen vehicle is described as a 2006, Grey Ford diesel pickup valued at $14,000.

The passenger side window of a 2005 grey, Toyota Camry belonging to the campground manager was also smashed, but it is not known if anything was taken.

In a separate incident a 2006 red, Ford Taurus was taken from near the Nancy’s Nails and Spa location on Skaha Lake Road.

The vehicle was left unlocked and the keys were under the seat while the owner was

inside the store. Anyone with information about any the incidents is asked to contact Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

 

 

Penticton Western News