Gone are the days when you could leave your house or car unlocked and be sure that it was safe but some residents seem to think those days are still here. In fact, not only do some people continue to leave their doors unlocked but some even leave their keys in their car!

Theft of vehicle remains high in the Central Okanagan with a 21% increase in thefts so far this year compared to last. Residential break and enters are also higher than last year with an 8% increase with many rural homes being targeted. Police continue to target prolific offenders and known auto-thieves but their efforts are being hampered by many vehicle and home owners themselves.

Over 25% of all vehicle thefts are a direct result of keys being left inside the car and countless more are a direct result of the vehicle being left unlocked, says Superintendent Nick Romanchuk, Officer in Charge of the Kelowna Regional Detachment, adding that, some of the items stolen from unlocked vehicles are astounding.

Purses, wallets, cell phones, iPads, laptop computers and other electronic devices are all on the hit list for thieves with no shortage of people waiting to become victims.

By removing any valuables and properly securing your vehicle and home, the risk of any theft occurring is minimized and is probably one of the easiest ways for residents to participate in preventing crime in their neighbourhood, states Superintendent Romanchuk.

Rural home owners seem to have the biggest false sense of security as their houses are most often found to be unlocked by police investigating residential break-ins.

An unsecured motor vehicle or house is a very tempting target for thieves and police are asking vehicle and home owners for their help in reducing theft: Lock it or lose it.