Photo by Whitehorse Star
Thefts from vehicles investigated
Whitehorse RCMP are reminding the public to be vigilant to prevent thefts from their vehicles.
Whitehorse RCMP are reminding the public to be vigilant to prevent thefts from their vehicles.
During the first week of December, police received eight reports of theft from vehicles and one mischief complaint related to a vehicle in Whitehorse.
“Please don’t leave valuables visible in your vehicle, especially during the holiday season when gifts and other purchases are more likely to be there,” police said in a statement.
“Ensuring that your vehicle is locked will also help deter thieves.”
Other safety tips to prevent theft:
• Do not leave any personal identification in an unattended vehicle or you could become a victim of identity theft. This includes driver’s licences, financial documents, credit/debit information or any mail that could identify who you are.
• Do not keep your garage door opener in your vehicle along with any identifying information as this could result in directing the suspects to your residence.
• If you have a garage, use it all the time when parking at home.
• Do not keep spare keys to your vehicle inside the vehicle.
• If you see any suspicious persons or activities near a vehicle, call the police immediately.
• Report suspicious activity while it is happening. Try to get a description of the suspects and their vehicle (including the licence plate).
• Do not confront the suspects. Let the police determine if it’s a crime in progress.
“People often fail to report suspicious activity while it is occurring because they don’t want to be embarrassed if their suspicions are unfounded,” police said.
“The police prefer that you call in suspicious activity so it can be investigated, resulting in criminals being apprehended and further criminal acts prevented.”
At home, light your driveway at night, police advise. Elsewhere, park in well-lit areas near pedestrian traffic.
If you have any information that might help solve these or any other crimes in the Whitehorse area, police want to hear from you at 667-5555.
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Comments (10)
Up 4 Down 0
Yukonertoo on Dec 22, 2019 at 6:28 am
We need a professional police force in Canada and we have one. There have been many changes over the years which has had the effect of our professional police separating itself from the rest of us. It's becoming us and them. When was the last time you saw a policeman walking on patrol. When I was a kid in Saskatoon, city cops wore buffalo parkas, beaver hats, thick gloves and boots. These police were an integral part of our daily lives. These are the police that knew local merchants and street criminals knew them. My point is I would like our police to substantially increase their presence on our streets thereby creating closer ties because, we are all in this community together.
p/s Please fly the flag more and make us even more proud of our police.
Up 14 Down 2
Atom on Dec 20, 2019 at 3:18 pm
If you call the cops for anything not 911 you get a pretty good sense they don't either want to do anything about it or don't have the time or interest. In fact the one time I phoned in about my shed (hasp pried off tools, bike gone) they basically blamed me. And the attitude was rude and obtuse.
I get it, they got a tough job, but honestly it's a slap in the face to victims.
I agree with gun et al....deal with it yourself, just cover your tracks. Now where is that baseball bat...
Up 17 Down 1
Jonathan Colby on Dec 19, 2019 at 6:04 am
"Are being investigated"
There is no investigation. There are files. No investigation.
Up 22 Down 3
Patrol on Dec 17, 2019 at 4:05 pm
I'd wager 90% of these BNEs are done by the same crew. We have seen the photos. We have seen the videos. We know who they are yet miraculously the cops don't. This 'investigation' won't amount to a hill of beans.
I suggest the RCMP get out there and actually patrol. In marked cars. In plain cars. On foot etc. I, like anyone living in COW see dozens of illegal thing happen every single day. Speeding. No lights. Distracted driving. Drunk/high driving. Fist Fights. Theft. Public intoxication. Public lewdness.
It's good to see the 'wanted' pics on social media, that is a step in the right direction but I'd still like the RCMP to do the weekly crime reports they used to do so that people are aware of the stuff gong on in the city.
Up 23 Down 2
Groucho d'North on Dec 17, 2019 at 1:52 pm
"... Report suspicious activity while it is happening. Try to get a description of the suspects and their vehicle (including the licence plate)..."
Better yet, whip out your smart phone and take a picture of these criminals in the act. Post their pictures on social media as a warning to the people who may live near these miscreants. Perhaps even mommy or daddy might recognize their darling little criminals, for whatever good that may do.
Up 43 Down 6
Tips on Dec 17, 2019 at 11:04 am
Our country is so sad, you can't even defend what is yours. Imagine being a contractor and having thousands of tools stolen out of your vehicle and then seeing this as a tip from the cops:
• Report suspicious activity while it is happening. Try to get a description of the suspects and their vehicle (including the licence plate).
• Do not confront the suspects. Let the police determine if it’s a crime in progress.
How about get your shotgun and confront these s**theads? Hmmm.. Oh that's right it's Canada where the crooks get off with a slap on the wrist and honest, hard working folks get dragged into court for trying to defend their livelihood.
Obvious disclaimer for the bleeding heart bunch. No I am not advocating blowing someones head off with a shotgun for stealing change out of your vehicle, I am trying to prove a point that honest folks will always be the victim and will never be able to get the upper hand on property crime if we keep giving in to the petty crooks and the courts keep on releasing them when (if) they're brought up before a judge.
Up 43 Down 7
Lost In the Yukon on Dec 16, 2019 at 9:49 pm
Sad state of affairs ... when it appears to be the victim’s fault if they get robbed or their property vandalized. Instead of saying to the public that we (RCMP) are going to stop crime... the message is hunker down in your house, draw the blinds, and hope like hell nothing happens.
Up 42 Down 7
Fred Sullivan on Dec 16, 2019 at 8:25 pm
Can we, please, accept that the RCMP success at solving property crime is negligible. Further that our legal system does not incarcerate perpetrators in those few incidents where they are apprehended and convicted of property crimes. Instead the criminals are released with restrictions on their freedoms that are not enforced. There is no deterrent to criminality. Perhaps it is time to explore alternatives where citizens are empowered to both protect their property and summarily punish criminals when they are caught in the act.
Up 37 Down 8
jc on Dec 16, 2019 at 5:08 pm
If the judges gave these perps more time in jail, these things wouldn't be happening. Most, if not all these perps are going through the revolving door - catch and release system. That has to stop. When I was growing up, there was a victim rights' law. Political Correctness threw that in the pooper.
Up 35 Down 5
Guncache on Dec 16, 2019 at 5:03 pm
Vehicle thefts are poorly investigated or not at all. They don't have the manpower to do it. Theft from vehicles will continue as there is no deterrent. A bait car needs to be set up and don't call the local constabulary. Some of them have said off the record to deal out your own justice, just cover your tracks.