Penticton records three per cent decline in residential break-ins

PENTICTON – While residential break and enters were down in Penticton last year, thieves appeared to have developed a preference for breaking into outbuildings.

The Penticton RCMP detachment recently released fourth quarter and annual statistics for the region’s detachments, and statistics indicate break and enters into residences in the Peach City area were down last year, but not so for other South Okanagan detachments.

Penticton saw residential break and enters decline by three per cent, from 159 in 2016 to 154 in 2017, with similar results reported for Okanagan Falls, where a 57 per cent decline was noted, from 14 to six incidents.

However, Penticton experienced an upswing in “other" break and enters as that category shot up in the same period by 79 per cent, from 99 to 177 incidents year to year.

The “other" category includes outbuildings such as sheds, barns and storage containers.

Other South Okanagan municipalities didn’t follow the Penticton trend, as Summerland noted a 32 per cent rise in residential break-ins, from 22 to 29 instances.

Results were similar in Oliver and Osoyoos, as residential break-ins shot up 131 per cent in Oliver, from 13 to 30 incidents reported, and 142 per cent in Osoyoos, with 29 instances reported in 2017 compared to 12 the previous year.

In the Similkameen, residential break-ins for Keremeos and Princeton were up, but only marginally. Keremeos rose by seven per cent from 15 to 16 instances reported and Princeton rose 11 per cent, from 19 to 21 incidents.

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