Unshovelled laneways may be invitation to thieves: Penticton RCMP

PENTICTON – Snowy winter weather might be contributing to a rash of household break and enters in Penticton.

A number of household thefts in the city over the past week have been from residences of people who have left the city for an extended length of time, RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says.

He says several days in the past week has seen the city blanketed with newly fallen snow, which can sometimes help thieves identify residences that aren’t being occupied. Wrigglesworth advises residents planning extended trips away from their homes to arrange for snow clearing around doors and walkways to give their house a lived in look.

On Monday, Jan.11, thieves kicked in the front door of a Greenwood Drive residence. It is unknown exactly what was taken at this point because the owner is out of town.

A break-in was reported at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday evening, Jan. 14, at a Martin Street residence. A vehicle was stolen and the house ransacked, with jewellery and other items stolen. The vehicle was later located in a Tim Hortons parking lot.

A Nicholson Street residence was broken into Sunday, Jan. 17. Thieves damaged a garage door and kicked in the back door of the residence before ransacking the house. The residence had last been checked Jan. 9.

A McKenzie Street residence was also ransacked Sunday. Theives broke into a vacation residence and took three Sony Bravo TVs, skiis, liquor and an espresso machine.

Police also responded to a break-in at a Sunny Bay Road residence in Okanagan Falls. The summer home is owned by an Edmonton resident.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.