Penticton RCMP investigating a series of vehicle and business break-ins

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP continue to investigate a series of vehicle thefts and break and enters that took place in the city earlier this week

Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says officers were called to numerous thefts and attempted thefts overnight on Sunday, Feb. 19.

Three vehicles were damaged during theft attempts, including one at Troy Place, where thieves took a garage door opener from a unlocked vehicle.

Wrigglesworth says on the same night on Halifax Street, the door lock was punched and vehicle rifled through, with several small items taken, and at a home on Hemlock Street the door handle was popped off and the steering column broken in an unsuccessful attempt to steal a vehicle.

A 1998 Chevy 1500 pickup was stolen from a Dawson Avenue, but was later recovered near Osoyoos on Highway 3. The vehicle had been left unlocked and the key was in the ignition.

Construction site sea cans in the 2900 and 3000 blocks of Skaha Lake Road had their locks cut off and were broken into, Wrigglesworth says. A work shack at the site was also broken into. More than $4,000 in tools were stolen including a DeWalt chop saw, a framing nailer, a Milwaukee tool bag and impact drill. Many of the tools can be identified by the engraving 'E Phillips Contracting.'

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