Police are urging residents to secure their vehicles following a rash of reported break-ins overnight in Lake Country.
On December 29, 2015 at 9:09 am, the Lake Country RCMP responded to a report of a theft from a vehicle parked in the 9800 block of Sonata Road. Investigators have determined that the vehicle had been left unlocked by its owner. The suspect located a garage door opener inside the vehicle and subsequently gained entry into the victim’s garage where they stole fishing gear and tools valued at over $2,000.
A short time later police received a second complaint of a similar incident which occurred in the 9700 block of Santina Road. The suspect in this incident entered another vehicle which had also been left unlocked overnight. The suspect reportedly stole an iPod, a set of head phones, and a cellular phone from inside.
A third incident has since been reported to police, this time in the 11000 block of Jackson Court. Once again the suspect entered an unlocked vehicle and stole loose change. Another garage door opener was left in this vehicle, however police did not find any evidence to suggest that the garage had been opened or entered by the suspect.
“The part that is most disconcerting to me is that registered owners are leaving their vehicles unlocked, along with their garage door openers inside,” says Cst. Katrina Claypool of Lake Country RCMP, “doing so allows the suspect access the victim’s garage where they could potentially steal even more valuable property.”
“Police would also like to suggest that the public consider going as far as disabling their automatic overhead garage doors when they are home, as some newer model vehicles with the garage door opener built in can sometimes be used when the vehicle is turned off,” adds Cst. Jesse O’Donaghey Kelowna RCMP Media Relations.
Lake Country RCMP are asking residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police, you can contact the Lake Country RCMP at 250-766-2288 or call 911 if it’s an emergency.