CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – Campbell River has seen an increase in property thefts as of late.
According to the Campbell River RCMP, included in this are thefts from vehicles and from campsites.
In a release, the detachment said residents sometimes leave wallets or purses in the vehicles, which result in credit card or cheque fraud.
“With the invention of credit card “tap” and online cheque cashing, many frauds happen before people even know their cards or cheque books are missing,” the release said.
The release added that 80% of thefts from vehicles occurred when cars were left unlocked.
The RCMP gave some tips on how community members can protect themselves and help reduce property crimes:
- Don’t leave valuables in unlocked or an easy to access outbuilding
- Don’t leave wallets, purses, phones, and other valuables in vehicles
- If a deal seems too good, there is a chance it was stolen; buying stolen goods supports criminal activity.
- Lock bicycles, generators, and trailers when camping
Should residents witness a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. If residents want to provide information regarding property crimes, contact the Campbell River detachment at 250-286-6221. For anonymous tips, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
