It's officially a new year for Coquitlam RCMP officers out on the beat.
Unfortunately, new "hotspots" for property theft are popping up across its jurisdiction and Mounties are now set to try and detour more thieves by canvassing a pair of locations over the next two weeks.
Nearly 50 personal property theft reports have come in in recent weeks, primarily in Coquitlam's Cariboo neighbourhood and the industrial area of Port Coquitlam according to the department's latest CompStat overview.
Police explain they've noticed an uptick in other forms of crimes in these areas, such as more than a dozen break-ins at businesses and homes as well as 14 stolen vehicles.
Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity is encouraged to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 or call 911 if there’s a theft in progress.
For now, until Jan. 25, here are the areas RCMP are set to roam near the following:
AREA #1
- From North Road in the west to Walker Street in the east
- From Austin Avenue in the north to Edgar Avenue in the south
AREA #2
- From Broadway Street in the west to Kingsway Avenue in the east
- From Kingsway Avenue in the north to Kebet Way in the south
Mounties are urging the public to take any and all steps necessary to curb potential theft and protect personal property, including:
- Locking doors and closing windows
- Parking in well-lit/well-populated areas where "natural surveillance" can serve as a deterrent
- Closing garage doors at night
- Taking your garage opener, house and/or business keys and vehicle registration papers out of your vehicle when it’s parked (if thieves steal these items, they could use them to commit other crimes including identity theft and break-and-enter)
