Break-ins and vehicle thefts in Penticton

PENTICTON – No arrests have been made after break and enters and vehicle thefts in Penticton's south end last week.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says the crimes happened on Thursday, March 2 and in one case a stolen SUV was set on fire just off Skaha Hills Drive.

Wrigglesworth says officers responded to a report of a break-in at a home on Lee Avenue at about 3 a.m. A man gained entry through sliding glass doors and the homeowner, who was inside, called police. The suspect grabbed a set of keys for a GMC Yukon and got away in the stolen vehicle.

A short time later, RCMP were called to a vehicle fire near Skaha Hills Drive where they found the stolen GMC Yukon.

At about 5 a.m. the same morning, police were notified of an attempted break in the 200 block of Skaha Lake Road, Wrigglesworth says. An unknown man attempted to open the door of a trailer, which was occupied. The owner yelled and the suspect ran away.

He says in both cases the suspect is described as a Caucasian man in his early 30s, about 5'6" tall, with a slim build and scruffy beard.

A black Mitsubishi Lancer, stolen from Wrights Beach Campground where the owner had left it running to warm up, was seen leaving the area. It was found later that morning abanonded in an alley behind Yorkton Avenue, Wrigglesworth says. It had some damage to the front end.

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