The ongoing problem of residents leaving cars unlocked prompted Oak Bay Police to conduct a 'lock it or lose it' project over a 90-minute span.
During the early morning patrols of Eastdowne Road and Haultain Road they found located 27 unlocked cars – one with its radio still playing.
"So far this year we have investigated 40 thefts from vehicles and only a few of these involved actually breaking into the cars, most are simply left unlocked," said Const. Rick Anthony, community liaison officer. "We know that many more cases go unreported. These thieves will enter many dozen cars in a night looking for parking change and electronics and anything of value."
One window smashed, two unlocked cars
Sports equipment and glasses were swiped from an unlocked vehicle and discovered missing June 11.
The vehicle was parked in the 1100 block of Hampshire Road and left unlocked overnight. The value of items was $800. The same night a resident in the 800 block of Hampshire reported an overnight theft in which a car window was smashed and a briefcase stolen. Also that night a resident in the 900 block of Hampshire Rd had sunglasses and change stolen from her unlocked car.
Parking problems alert police
Police were called when the driver of a Chrysler PT Cruiser struck another vehicle, reversed quickly and drove over a curb in the parking lot of Athlone Court on June 9 around 3:30 p.m. Police investigation lead to the driver being issued a 90-day driving prohibition.
Lock your homes too
A resident discovered wedding rings and fruit stolen after someone entered a home in the 900 block of Foul Bay Road on June 9. The resident came home after 7 p.m. to find someone had entered the unoccupied home sometime during the day, likely through an unlocked ground floor window.