Squamish RCMP are warning against theft after residents reported cases of fraud, as well as items being stolen from their vehicles and garages.
“Many of these thefts we investigate are preventable,” said Cpl. Angela Kermer, Squamish RCMP media relations officer, in a news release.
“We need people to keep securing their belongings, to look out for themselves and each other, to utilize crime prevention methods available, and to report any suspicious activity to police.”
Police are urging people to secure their property and lock away their belongings to help reduce this type of crime.
“Opportunist thieves find ways to access garages such as using a universal remote or simply by checking car door handles to see if cars are secure,” reads the RCMP release.
“Another common theme for thieves is to enter a car and steal insurance papers and garage remote, then go to the address on the insurance papers, get easy access to the garage with the remote, and then steal [the] contents.”
Officers say they’ve increased bike, car, and foot patrols, but police say residents should be on guard to prevent themselves from being victims of theft.
This includes locking doors, removing valuables, doing regular checks, not keeping garage remotes or fobs in the car, and looking out for each other as neighbors are some common ways to deter would-be thieves.
In addition, the release said using alarms, lighting, and camera systems often act as barriers to thieves. Reporting to police is also important as often thieves commit these crimes in neighborhood sprees. The more information police have, the more they can investigate.
Squamish RCMP asks anyone with any information about any crime to contact the Squamish RCMP at 604-892-6100, or, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or, go to www.solvecrime.ca
