Easy pickings for thieves

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The theft of two purses from parked cars were easy pickings for thieves as the stolen items were left in plain view.

Salmon Arm RCMP Staff Sgt. Scott West said police received two reports of vehicles being broken into on Tuesday, Nov. 1 in the Little Mountain or Bird Sanctuary/Foreshore Trail area.

In both cases, purses were stolen from the vehicles and in both cases the purses were left in plain view.

West said “in these latest incidents, the theft from vehicles occurred when the cars were parked in parking lots as people went for a walk or hike. In both instances items were left in plain view for the thieves to quickly note that the break-in by damaging the vehicle would yield results.”

It is a mantra police have been saying for years, but again West said as a “measure to make your vehicle less appealing to these would-be thieves, please remove personal items such as change, wallets, phones and purses from your vehicle when you leave it parked or put these items out of view.”

Anyone with information on the thefts is being urged to call RCMP at 250 832 6044 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).