A busy Coquitlam neighbourhood has become a recent "hotspot" for property theft.
According to the RCMP's latest CompStat overview, nearly a dozen theft-from-vehicle reports in Maillardville have come forward to the local detachment out of about 40 across its entire jurisdiction.
As a result, more police are put to action by sending extra patrols to canvass and potentially stop more thieves from breaking into vehicles.
Coquitlam Mounties are looking for those breaking into homes and businesses as well, in which about 20 combined incidents have recently been reported, the new data says.
Specific locations of these reports can be found on the map below.
Between now and Feb. 8, RCMP are set to roam in an around the following locations:
- From Alison Street in the west to Begin Street in the east
- From Stewart Avenue in the north to Woolridge Street in the south
In the meantime, police are asking the public to take all steps necessary to curb potential theft and protect personal property.
This includes:
- 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)
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.
