Auto break-ins back on the upswing in Kamloops

May 8, 2017 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP say the ebb and flow pattern of auto break-ins is flowing once again.

Police say they have been responding to more and more ‘theft from vehicle’ complaints in recent weeks.

“We see it happen, I think, more so in the later spring, early summer months. The warmer weather tends to bring out the offenders into the later hours of the night,” said Cpl. Brandon Buliziuk.

“But we also find there’s definitely complacency among people with leaving objects visible in their vehicles, or leaving their vehicles unlocked.”

Buliziuk advises residents to remove valuables from their vehicles, or at least remove them from sight.

He notes it’s always a good idea to lock your vehicle, even if it might result in having to pay the deductible on an insurance claim if the thief causes damage.

Buliziuk says locking the door is more likely to scare the thief off, because he or she will want to work quickly and be discrete.

“They want to move quickly and cause as little of a scene as possible. Typically, when they cause a scene, somebody in the area is likely to call the police, at which time, usually that offender is going to be run out of that area for that night, and disrupt the plan that they had.”