Tri-City residents need to a do a better job of protecting their property and limiting opportunities for criminals, according to Coquitlam RCMP.
In a media release Thursday, the local Mounties said their CompStat program, which collects and analyses crime data, shows a significant spike in property crime they said is preventable.
"What we're seeing in these files is that the most common causation factor is people are just not protecting their property. They're creating fantastic opportunities for criminals and criminals are taking full advantage," said Coquitlam RCMP Const. Kristina Biro.
She said the spike in crime can be attributed to three preventable factors:
doors or windows being left open or unlocked;
garage door openers being stolen during vehicle break-ins and used to gain access to homes;
and faulty locks on doors or windows not being repaired.
In many vehicle break-ins, Biro said car doors were simply left unlocked. Some of the more common items taken include vehicle registration papers, wallets, GPS, iPods, iPads, laptop computers and cameras. She noted thieves can sell stolen items or use them for crimes such as fraud and identity theft.
"The good news is that the circumstances around most of these crimes are completely preventable," she said. "And the bottom line is we're asking people to protect themselves."
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