Vancouver police issue warning spike in vehicles break-ins

Vancouver police has reminded  the public to take appropriate safety precautions after the department recorded a nearly 40 per cent increase in vehicle break-ins so far this year. “Theft of items from vehicles is a preventable crime,” media relations officer Sgt. Jason Robillard said in a press release. “You can take simple steps to help prevent thieves from breaking into your vehicle. One of the easiest things to do is avoid leaving anything visible in your car.”

In the first three months of 2018 there were more than 3,500 thefts reported from vehicles, compared with more than 2,500 in 2017 — nearly a 39 per cent increase, said Robillard. “The effort it takes to remove all visible items in your car is minimal, when compared to the cost and hassle of replacing a broken car window.” The spike in thefts follows a crackdown in downtown Vancouver in December that led to the arrests of 25 suspects and more than 80 charges laid, Robillard said.