Today the whole province of BC will hear the plight of many town and rural residents on the subject of break-ins, robberies, drug related stealing, crack houses AND what seems to many as inadequate policing by the RCMP in this area.

Couple of headlines:

Oliver RCMP raid house on Primrose Lane Monday (south of Road 3)

Police helicopter spotted checking out rural properties on the west bench (Road 7, Sumac Drive)

Truck stolen (see previous ODN story)

Car stolen from farm – found in Osoyoos

Farmers complaining that garages and barns broken into for tools, car parts, aluminium ladders – anything of value that can be quickly converted to cash for drugs.

Bobcat, trailer and truck stolen (see previous ODN story)

Home invasion south of Road Two (Radies) (see previous ODN story)

Mayor Ron Hovanes says he is very concerned about how this reflects on the community and he will speak to the issue on CBC at noon today on “Almanac”. Other people affected by the crime wave will speak as well.

Hovanes says Town council is seeking a meeting with the “Regional” higher ups including Superintendent Kevin Hewco and new small rural community police supervisor S/Sgt. Kirsten Marshall.

Both the Osoyoos and Oliver Detachments running without a top cop as promotions and retirements have affected staffing at the management level.

Is this a case of where vigilante action is threatened? FB pages outing “criminals” or innocent people. People circulating pictures of known suspects via phones and emails. Is this a trend – something to worry about?

ODN is listening – many people now phoning the media to get the word out on crime on our streets.

use this email info@ODNews.ca – send pictures, crime news, tips and all of it reviewed for possible publication.