White Rock logged fewer reports of thefts, assaults and disturbances last month than in November 2010, statistics show.
According to a monthly crime report released last week, police dealt with 14 theft-from-vehicle incidents in November 2011, compared to 22 in the same period the year prior. Assault reports also dropped, from 21 in November 2010 to four last month.
Const. Janelle Shoihet said items targeted in the vehicle break-ins included many items that can be used to commit identity theft, including wallets, passports, credit cards and social-insurance cards. She advised against leaving such valuables in vehicles, and said citizens shouldn’t carry their SIN card or birth certificate with them.
Items taken from both vehicles and homes included GPS units, iPods, cellphones and laptop and tablet computers. One trend noted in such incidences is that perpetrators gained entry or access largely through unlocked doors and windows, Shoihet said.
Disturbance calls in the city were down by 75 per cent, from 12 a year ago to three last month.
Increases were seen in incidences of residential break-and-enter, which numbered 18 last month compared to 15 in November 2010. Drug offences were up slightly, to nine from eight. The city also saw twice the number of business break-and-enters last month – two – compared to a year ago.
One statistic that saw no change was the number of drinking drivers police dealt with – 31. The total includes drivers deemed impaired and those handed immediate roadside suspensions.
For tips on crime prevention or information on crime prevention programs, call White Rock RCMP at 778-593-3611 or visit www.bc.rcmp.ca