Thieves break into homes damaged in landslide in southeast B.C.

KASLO, B.C. – Thieves have been breaking into homes damaged in a landslide that killed four people in a remote area of southeast B.C. last year.

The RCMP say the robbers have risked their own lives to enter the evacuation zone in Johnson’s Landing and steal tools and other items, including from the home where three of the victims died.

Police say at least four unoccupied homes were broken into between March 11 and 16 in the community about 70 kilometres north of Nelson.

Police haven’t entered the homes themselves because of the debris in the area and the danger of more slides, but they’ve learning of the thefts from local residents.

The items stolen from the property where three people died include a ride-on mower, a table saw and an air compressor, while computers and other tools have been taken from other buildings.

The massive slide roared down on Johnson’s Landing in July of last year, destroying three homes and killing a father, his two daughters and a German woman.