Sgt. Mike Hacker, the acting commander of the Sunshine Coast RCMP, told Gibsons councillors this week that he’s expecting a decrease in break and enters and thefts from vehicles after the arrest of a pair of so-called prolific offenders.
In his quarterly update for council, Hacker said although the number of break and enters did not change between the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of this year, the pattern did. Of the six break-ins in the first quarter of 2017, none targeted homes. Four of the six reported in first quarter this year did. There was also a B&E at a seasonal property.
There was a slight increase in thefts from vehicles; there were 10 in the first quarter of 2017 and 13 in the first quarter of 2018.
Hacker said police believe the same two suspects were involved in both types of crime.
“It was the same two suspects from what we can understand,” he said. “I’m expecting in the next quarter to see a reduction in residential B&Es and thefts from autos.”
He also said RCMP are considering a media campaign to remind people to lock their vehicles at night.
The other notable increase, according to Hacker, was in bylaw offences.
“We’ve had an increase in noise infractions in the Town of Gibsons. Primarily that’s related to Airbnb… There’s been some changes with regards to the one property we’ve had some substantial complaints from – going forward, that’s still a work in progress,” he said.
Hacker also updated council on staffing at the detachment, saying they anticipate a replacement for commanding officer Vishal Mathura, who took a promotion and transfer to the Lower Mainland earlier this year, will be named in August at the earliest.
