‘Lock your doors’: Seven theft from car reports in one day in Fort St. John prompts RCMP reminder

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — After seven reports in just one day of items being taken from people’s unlocked vehicles, Fort St. John RCMP officers are urging residents to lock their car doors.

According to a press release from the detachment, seven reports were submitted on Monday, June 9th, of vehicles being rummaged through after being left unlocked overnight.

Officers have reportedly since canvassed the area door-to-door in an effort to find video surveillance footage and determine if anyone’s vehicles were damaged.

While they work to process the results of their canvassing efforts, officers are reminding residents the easiest way to protect their vehicles and anything inside them is to lock their doors.

“Breaking into an unlocked vehicle to steal potential valuables, such as wallets containing money, bank or credit cards and ID, or tablets, laptops and expensive tools, is a crime of opportunity,” said Corporal Rebecca Bojczuk. “We, the RCMP, are asking the public, please lock your vehicle any time you leave it unattended.”

Police say items stolen from cars, like debit and credit cards or personal ID, can lead to fraud, while others like computers and tools may be irreplaceable due to their personal value.

“Locking your vehicle protects you from more than a pair of sunglasses getting stolen,” the press release reads. 

Additionally, officers say the BC Motor Vehicle Act allows officers to issue an $81 ticket to the owners of a vehicle for leaving it insecure.