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Kelowna  

Don't be an easy target

Kelowna RCMP hope the lure of prizes will drive the message home that residents need to secure their vehicles.

Community policing co-ordinator Colleen Cornock appeared before council Monday with some sobering news – theft from vehicles is up 50 per cent over the first half of 2016, compared with 2015 numbers.

This despite a new program launched in 2015 – Don't Be An Easy Target.

"We wanted to increase public awareness and seek their involvement in reducing theft from motor vehicles," said Cornock.

"The goal is to change behaviour, to remind people to remove valuables from their vehicles, to lock their vehicles and to report any suspicious activity to the RCMP."

Cornock said theft from vehicles is driving crime stats in the city. She reiterated that fact when questioned by Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, who wanted to know whether this type of crime was included within figures released by Statistics Canada last week showing Kelowna, and the Central Okanagan, has the second highest crime rate among major cities in Canada.

"All property is included, and that is a driver right now. Our crime prevention unit looks at the two main drivers right now in our crime stats: theft of bicycles and theft from motor vehicles."

Basran said it's important people know this when they point to local government and beyond to say 'you need more resources.'

"Really they need to be looking in the mirror and saying it actually starts at home with them," said Basran.

"Not saying we don't play our part, I'm not trying to say that, but the fact some people are leaving their vehicles unlocked count towards our crime statistics. It's absurd to me."

Basran said this program is a way for residents to play a part in reducing those crime numbers.

Don't Be An Easy Target was reintroduced earlier this month with a social media component attached to it.

Cornock said people are given a card which includes a static cling decal which reads, 'All Locked Up, and Nothing to Take.'

"All you have to do is put the decal on the driver's side window, take a picture of it, then go to the social media sites, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and do a couple of hashtags for us: #kelowna, #dontbeaneasytarget.

"Automatically, you are entered in to win a $50 gift card from one of our retailers or restaurants within the city. We will be doing a draw every two weeks."

The decals can be picked up at the Rutland and KLO community policing stations, the main downtown detachment on Doyle, and soon at the Parkinson Rec Centre.



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