Residents have the power to prevent theft from cars

While Kelowna RCMP say auto theft is on the decline, they say theft of items inside the vehicle is on the rise and there are ways residents can prevent being targeted.

The Kelowna detachment received 4,600 reports of theft last year and want residents to:

1. Always lock vehicles
2. Never leave property inside a vehicle

RCMP statistics show nearly 40 per cent of all thefts are thefts from vehicles and 67 per cent of those vehicles were unlocked. Had owners followed the two simple rules, the thefts might have been avoided.

The RCMP would like to see the public performing their own due diligence to prevent becoming a victim of crime.