Residential break and enters are on the rise in Parksville, according to a report by RCMP to council’s Oct. 18 regular meeting.
There were 22 residential break and enters reported to police between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, an increase from the 15 reported in the same period last year, according to Sgt. Stephen Rose.
Coun. Mark Chandler said the number concerns him and asked if there was one suspect responsible for many of the incidents.
“I’d like to be able to say that’s the case. Unfortunately with this recent increase in the quarter, there’s been no specific or single offender identified,” said Rose.
He added there were a number of different offenders and types of severity involved in the break and enter incidents.
“I want the public to know this isn’t someone breaking in while you’re sleeping at night and emptying your house of all the valuables. This can also include a theft from your carport that happened while you were at work. It can be forced entry to an outbuilding on the property and something taken,” Rose said.
He reminded residents to be aware of suspicious activity on their property and their neighbours’ property and report it to police when they see it.
Reported business break and enters in Parksville declined from 23 between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 of 2020 to 13 in the same period this year.
The number of reported residential and business break and enters also declined in Qualicum Beach and the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), according to RCMP.
