Rick Dellebuur with Penticton  community policing said the large number of break-ins in the South Okanagan is likely attributed to people who got sent away to jail in the spring now being back in the community.

Three quads and other items were also taken from See Ya Later Ranch winery in Okanagan Falls. 3 suspect were located in that incident.

“Part of the upswing is some of our prolific offenders are back on the street,” he said.

Thieves targeted a Penticton outdoors store, a winery, and other local businesses in recent days, according to RCMP.

At True Outdoors on Riverside Drive, a vehicle was backed up to the garage-style doors and the store was ransacked, with backpacks, high-end clothing and shoes taken.

High Calibre Pawnbrokers on Main Street also experienced a theft, with a silver necklace worth $5,000 being taken.

A truck used for fueling vehicles, said to be an old forestry truck, was stolen from Penticton Honda.

A dog was also stolen from the SPCA shelter last week. So far, there is no update on the animal.

“(GPS) is a good theft deterrent…. We are losing a lot of quads out there.”

“We are having a number of break-ins and that, especially in the south. The OK Falls, Oliver area,” Dellebuur said. “Some of it stems from some of the people who got sent away this spring are now back into our communities.”

“We’re certainly trying to work on some of these prolific (offenders)  but at the same time people have to take certain steps including securing your property.”
Source: Castanet