UPDATED TUESDAY, DEC. 6, 8 A.M.: A fourth break-in occurred Monday, during the day, in the 3500 block of 42nd Avenue, near Alexis Park Elementary School. Family heirlooms, a computer tablet and a bass guitar were stolen. Entry was gained forcibly.
Said Const. Noseworthy: "We are thoroughly examining all aspects of these crimes, and that of course includes whether we can connect them, but at this point we have no evidence to suggest they are, in fact, connected."
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Vernon RCMP are investigating three daytime break-and-enters at Vernon homes located several blocks apart.
On Nov. 30, somebody broke into a home in the 4200 block of 30th Street and stole a Playstation3, Playstation4, two dozen video games and jewelry.
Two days later, on Friday, an unknown person broke into a home in the 2100 block of 43rd Avenue and stole an Xbox One, two dozen video games, and iPhone 3S and an orange and black backpack.
“It could be someone very interested in video games but, in reality, it’s just very easy things to pawn,” said Vernon RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy when asked about the simiiarity of the two thefts.
“We’re looking at a connection but they are just quick things to grab and easy to sell.”
Also on Friday, somebody broke into a home in the 2300 block of 42nd Avenue and helped themselves to a pair of Maui Jim designer sunglasses, a watch, a blue Acer laptop computer and a small blue flashlight.
In all three cases, the thefts happened during the day with nobody home.
Entry to the homes was forced in all cases.
Asked if the incidents are usual occurrences during the Christmas season, Noseworthy said there hasn’t been a spike in the detachment’s statistics.
“From a general policing point of view, the break-and-enters and thefts can be a little bit easier at this time of the year for our prolific break-and-enter artists to notice when people are gone,” she said.
“In terms of break-and-enters to residences, they usually occur during the day. It’s just safer for these guys to break-in when they know everybody’s at work.”
Anybody with any information on the three incidents is asked to call the Vernon detachment at 250-545-7171, or Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 1-800-222-8477.