Property crime is still a problem in Prince George.
A trend police noticed in May has continued so far this month, according to numbers released Wednesday by Prince George RCMP.
From June 1 to June 21, there had been 69 thefts from vehicles, 19 residential break-ins and 18 business break-in, increases of 73, 137 and 64 per cent respectively from the same period last year.
"In a few cases a vehicle window had been smashed and access to the garage and the rest of the house was gained though the remote door opener," said Cpl. Craig Douglass.
"In one case, the residents were home sleeping at the time of the break-in."
Thousands of dollars worth of property have been stolen including electronics, bicycles, motorcycles, DVDs, video games and cash, Douglass added.
And while thefts from vehicles are usually a result of the owners leaving a door unlocked, Douglass said thieves have been taking the much more brazen and risky action of breaking windows to steal valuables left in plain view.
"This may be as concerning as the increase itself," Douglass said.
"The culprit or culprits are so desperate that they are willing to risk increased detection to steal the property."
In such instances, he urged the public to refrain from confronting suspects but to call 911 immediately.
He said the thefts are occurring at all times of the day and throughout the city and it's possible a particular group is behind most of them.
A vehicle is likely being used to transport the stolen goods, Douglass added.
RCMP provided the following tips to help catch the culprits and prevent thefts in the first place:
Report suspicious activity at all hours of the day, especially the sound of breaking glass;
Remove all valuables from your vehicles when parked;
When possible, remove garage door openers when your vehicle is parked at home (not in the garage);
Lock the inner door to your residence;
Use security systems, cameras and other deterrents;
Record serial numbers or engrave your driver's licence number on valuables;
Take pictures of property and store the files on a disk;
Get to know your neighbours and keep an eye on their property;
Keep your doors locked, even if you are in the back yard;
Close and lock your windows each time you leave your home, even in hot weather.
Anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of suspects is asked to call the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca, or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES using keyword "pgtips."
