Focus on prolific offenders key to sharp drop in Penticton vehicle thefts

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP are reporting a big drop in the number of car thefts over the first three months of 2018.

According to the detachment's crime statistics, there was a 45 per cent drop in auto thefts in the first quarter of this year.

Detachment commander Supt. Ted De Jager says in an emailed statement the detachment has be actively targeting vehicle thieves.

“This type of crime is in the domain of the prolific offender, a type of criminal who commits over 85 per cent of the crime in our communities,” De Jager says.

Penticton RCMP investigated 37 auto thefts in the first three months of this year, compared to 67 in the first quarter of 2017.

The trend towards fewer vehicle thefts continued in the fourth quarter of 2017, when 43 vehicle thefts were reported compared to 37 in this year’s first quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2016, there were 70 car thefts reported to police.

“This type of crime is in the domain of the prolific offender, a type of criminal who commits over 85 per cent of the crime in our communities,” De Jager says.

He says this quarter’s auto theft statistics are not surprising, based on the detachment’s resolve to catch prolific offenders.

“This should be the primary focus of our police resources, coupled with increased awareness from our citizens to watch out for their property and that of their neighbours."

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