Sunshine Coast RCMP have issued a reminder to residents of nearby islands to be extra vigilant in protecting their property after a Nelson Island home was reportedly burglarized by two men on a zodiac earlier this month.
Two suspects were captured on surveillance footage arriving at the property aboard what appeared to be a white zodiac, approximately three metres in length and flying a black flag.
Two doors were kicked down on the property and several items stolen, including a red chainsaw, socket wrench kits and a pickaxe.
According to the RCMP, thefts on the islands within the Sunshine Coast policing area are more frequently discovered by residents returning to their homes in the spring.
Cpl. Steven Chubey said police visibility on the island and rural areas remains a priority for the detachment.
"We do, however, recognize that there areobvious logistical challengespresented on the Islands within the [Sunshine Coast Regional District] when it comes to day-to-day police presence," he said.
In their effort to deter crime on the islands, the RCMP have increased boat, foot and bike patrols, particularly during the summer months. Local policy also dictates that calls from the islands are given the same priority as anywhere else on the Coast, Chubey said.
"There is an expectation that the residents on the islands, whether they are full-time or seasonal,take the measures necessary to ensure their homes, cabins and communities alike are properly secured," he said. "Be vigilant of suspicious activities."
Ian Martin, service co-ordinator with Sunshine Coast Security Plus, said that residential security technology has advanced "incredibly over the last five years."
Wireless technologies have allowed homeowners to tap into live feeds of their home using their smart phones or computers.
Using cell phone towers or other forms of Internet connectivity, rural security systems can now be controlled remotely using a variety of methods. But the traditional methods help too.
"Generally good deterrents are lights and noise," advised Martin, who recommended automatic alarms and motion-sensitive lighting to ensure would-be robbers not only think twice about stealing from a property, but are made more visible should they try.
He also recommended residents give thought to having a power supply that could ensure the functionality of a security system when nobody's home, a solar panel, for instance.
The Nelson Island home that was broken into earlier this month was outfitted with video surveillance, allowing police to gain a description of the suspects as well as the boat they were travelling in.
"Often, break-ins are perpetrated in darker hours," said Martin. "So automatic lighting at the place is a huge bonus, clears that picture right up."
