Without a crystal ball to predict the next theft from a vehicle, Trail RCMP is keeping a watchful eye on city neighborhoods that have fallen victim to a surge in incidents.
Police received a report of another theft that occurred Tuesday, when a $200 stereo was pulled from a vehicle parked on Fourth Avenue in East Trail. This after two cars were broken into on Topping Street late last month, and six thefts from vehicles in the Laburnum area took place mid-July.
Police arrested two suspects, in relation to the first rash of thefts, who will appear in Rossland court Aug. 20.
“Trail has been a really safe place for a long time and it still is, relatively, but we still get these spurts once in a while,” said RCMP Sgt. Rob Hawton, adding the importance of removing all valuables from vehicles and locking them up.
“It’s good common sense anywhere. Even though you have a quiet community, it doesn’t prevent someone at some time, helping themselves.”
Whether these incidents are linked or not, Hawton couldn’t speculate, but said assistance from the public is valued in catching who’s responsible.
“The police can only do so much – there is no way the community can support enough policemen to be on every corner to watch everything,” he said. “ We’re a service and we depend on the cooperation and help from the public.”
The driving community was last caught by storm in 2010 when a man vandalized vehicles in town with corrosive material.
“We had this place just crawling with police officers – plain clothes and regular duty –and a member that night was driving down the street and in his rearview mirror saw someone cross the street,” recalled Hawton.
“It was really quick so he was really sharp to catch that. He beetled around to the road below and caught the guy coming out and he was just about home on him and we were that close to missing him again.”
Shane York plead guilty to committing mischief over $5,000 and disguising his face while committing an offence.
Residents with any information regarding thefts from vehicles are asked to call the Trail RCMP at 364-2566.