A rise in theft from vehicles – both locked and unlocked – throughout Sooke has kept Sooke RCMP officers on their toes in the last couple of months.
This includes theft of valuable items taken from various properties throughout Sooke.
There have been 37 reported thefts from vehicles since Dec. 1, and 31 thefts from properties, said RCMP Staff Sgt. Jeff McArthur.
In the case of vehicle thefts, thieves smashed windows to gain entry.
McArthur said the thefts were not specific to one area and are spread throughout residential areas around the Sooke core.
He added that many of these thefts were “thefts of opportunities” such as an unlocked car door or momentary placement of an item in an open, unprotected location.
Thieves have also been targeting items not necessarily hot on the usual theft menu such as in a recent case where a student had her books and school work stolen.
Due to the wave of recent thefts, McArthur reminded the community not to leave valuable items in their vehicles or unguarded.