A pack of cigarettes.
Loose change.
They are items not worth that much, but leaving them in plain sight in your vehicle could lead to an ICBC claim and having to have repairs made after a break-in.
There apparently is no target too small for local thieves.
While some of the recent thefts from vehicles are of higher-priced items like iPods, cameras and satellite radios, many appear to be a case of someone breaking into the vehicle, then just taking whatever happens to be lying around.
We’re halfway through summer (well, according to the calendar, at least), so it might be the easy way to blame youth out of school and bored with many of these crimes.
The thing is, according to police, there are peaks and valleys for these break-ins throughout the year, including times when school is in.
So how do we stop these crimes?
Some of the onus is on the vehicle owners.
Do the little things. Make sure your vehicle is locked anytime you leave it.
Park in a well-lit area. Most importantly, make sure nothing of value is visible inside. (That’s another reason for parking in a well-lit area.)
In terms of how we as a society can cut down on these crimes, there are two schools of thought.
One would see the thieves, when caught, face the full force of the justice system. If you catch them early enough in the cycle, you can break them of the bad habits.
The other idea is to provide more opportunities for youth in the community. The problem is, to some youth, breaking into vehicles is their leisure activity.
Don’t make it easy for them.
– Black Press
