Two men have been arrested this week in Abbotsford and face charges related to vehicle break-ins and thefts.
A man returned to a home in the 31600 block of Old Yale Road before midnight on March 25, and found someone inside his car, which was parked in his driveway. The man inside the vehicle noticed him and ran away.
Not far from the site, police arrested Justin Sidon, a 24-year-old Abbotsford resident, and charged him with theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen property relating to items that were stolen from the vehicle.
On March 26 at 8:30 pm, a suspect was spotted by police breaking into a vehicle in the downtown core area of Abbotsford. After a short foot pursuit, Kevin Coell, 25, was arrested and charged with three counts of theft under $5,000, two counts of possession of stolen property, possessing break-in instruments, and breach of undertaking.
During the first quarter of this year, the APD has seen a seven per cent increase in the number of reported thefts from vehicle.
Thieves often target the crime of opportunity, noticing valuables left in vehicles that are unattended. Items such as laptops, iPads, cell phones, wallets, and loose change are often targeted by thieves, said police.
Today is the launch of Auto Crime Awareness Month.
Residents are encouraged to take a few extra steps in securing their personal belongings before leaving their vehicles. For more information visit icbc.com/road-safety/prevent-autocrime/theft-proof.