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Be wary of the present thieves

Shoppers aren't the only ones in the parking lots this year

When opportunity knocks you likely want it at your door, rather than in the mall parking lot at your car.

That’s a message the Oceanside RCMP are stressing to the public this week as they reiterated their call for shoppers to be careful and prevent themselves from becoming targets of opportunity.

Oceanside RCMP Sergeant Darrell Robertson said the message is doubly important now, with so many people focusing on Christmas shopping.

“Throughout the year and now with the holiday season fast upon us, please remember to secure your property and lock your vehicles,” he said. “Keep any items of value out of sight or locked in your trunks and report any suspicious persons or vehicles to the police immediately.”

The warning comes in light of a rash of thefts from vehicles in the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 9 in the Columbia Beach and French Creek areas.

The unidentified culprits entered nine vehicles on streets which included, Dalmation Drive, Juan De Fuca Blvd., Viking Way, Admiral Tryon Blvd. and Marine Circle.

Property such as loose change, cell phones, Ipods, sunglasses and jewelry, were stolen.

Robertson noted that none of the vehicles targeted were locked and there were no reported thefts from other vehicles in the area which had been securely locked.

Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to contact the Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.