With Christmas quickly approaching, Sunshine Coast RCMP is reminding vehicle owners to protect themselves against theft.
Thefts from vehicles are a recurring problem throughout the year, but the risk of theft often escalates during the holiday season, when people may be more likely to leave valuables in their car.
Someone entered numerous vehicles in the West Sechelt area overnight on Saturday, Dec. 13, and rummaged through contents inside. All of the vehicles entered had been left unlocked.
Const. Harrison Mohr said that police will be patrolling neighbourhoods late at night to try to deter would-be thieves, however it is important that the public also take steps to safeguard their property.
“These thefts occur so quickly, it can be difficult to catch someone in the act,” said Mohr. “The best thing people can do is remove valuables and lock their vehicles when unattended. Forcing a door or breaking a window makes a lot of noise and takes a lot more time than simply opening an unlocked door, and therefore it is usually the unlocked vehicles that are targeted.”
RCMP also suggest leaving a light or motion-sensor light on outside your residence at night, as thieves are less likely to target vehicles in well-lit areas.
Anyone who has had their vehicle broken into or rummaged through is encouraged to report it to police, even if nothing was taken, as police can then identify the areas being targeted, and allocate resources accordingly.
