Steveston plagued by home break-ins

A rash of residential break-ins in Steveston have area residents worried as in at least a couple of incidents, the overnight thefts have seen homeowners encounter the bandit face-to-face.

While Richmond Mounties are trying to identify the culprits, Richmond RCMP Cpl. Stephanie Ashton urged area residents to report all suspicious activity, which may help lead investigators to those who are responsible.

The most recent one apparently occurred early Tuesday, around 2 a.m., when a resident awoke to find a thief in the house.

According to the City of Richmonds interactive Criminal Activity Map (tinyurl.com/RichmondCrime)which is updated daily and shows where residential/commercial break-ins, and thefts from car occurthere were four houses struck on Shuswap Avenue and Skagit Drive, mid morning on Sunday, Sept. 21, between 5 and 7:30 a.m. Three of the break-ins were successful, with unlocked front, back and patio doors being used to gain entry.

Then on the weekend of Sept. 27 and 28, there were five break-ins on the 3100 block of Steveston Highway and nearby Springthorne Crescent, with three between 5 and 7 a.m. Two detached garages who had left their doors unlocked were targetted.

Two other homes were targeted just down the road that same weekend, on 6th Avenue, both between 3 and 4 a.m., one of which was successful.

Weve definitely seen a spike in break-ins and theft from auto, Ashton told The Richmond Review Tuesday.

So what are police doing about it? And what can residents do?

Ashton said police are urging residents to report all break-ins and attempted break-ins, which might provide them the crucial detail that could lead to the perpetrators being identified and arrested.

Local volunteers, through the Blockwatch, Crimewatch and Lock-out Auto Crime programs are doing their part too, including doing overnight patrols in neighbourhoods. Police patrol areas whenever they receive reports of an interupted break-in or suspicious activity.

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Steveston plagued by home break-ins