Sunshine Coast RCMP are continuing to devote extra resources to investigating a rash of break-and-enters in Sechelt.
Staff Sgt. Poppy Hallam said the most recent break-in happened in the early morning hours of Sept. 20 when someone got into the offices at the Lighthouse Pub through the roof and stole cigarettes. There was also another break-in reported at the Blue Ocean Golf Club that same day. A police dog was brought in but wasn’t able to track down any suspects.
In both cases investigators are reviewing security camera video that’s helping RCMP identify suspects, Hallam said.
Video surveillance is also being used to identity the suspect or suspects in a break-in that happened around 1:15 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Shell gas station at Cowrie Street and Trail Avenue. The thieves in that case also made off with cigarettes.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District landfill on Dusty Road and Waste Management’s yard on Sechelt Inlet Road have also been hit by thieves in the past two weeks.
Hallam said the recent break-ins fit the general pattern of increased property crime the detachment has been tracking in Sechelt since July.
“We’ve had extra members on duty, including myself. The police service dog has been coming over from Squamish and spending days with us and will continue to come over,” Hallam said, adding that police do have suspects in the recent thefts although they haven’t yet made arrests.
Hallam is also asking people or businesses with security camera footage they think may be useful to contact RCMP and not to hesitate to call and report suspicious activity, especially if they spot someone trespassing on private property at night, which is a more serious offence than regular trespassing and something RCMP are able to make an immediate arrest for.
“If the public believes a crime is about to occur because there’s somebody parked suspiciously somewhere or you see someone skulking around, please call 911, instead of the non-emergency number,” Hallam said.
