While crime in Comox is on the rise, the inspector of the Comox Valley RCMP detachment told council Wednesday there is no change in numbers for violent crime within the town.
Inspect. Tim Walton told council at the committee of the whole meeting calls for service from April to September have increased by 20 per cent compared to the same time since last year.
Calls in general within the Comox Valley have increased by 18 per cent, he added.
“There has been a very significant increase in thefts from vehicles. Most of these crimes are completely preventable - lock your doors and hide your valuables.”
From April 1 to Sept. 30 2016, there were 28 thefts from vehicles; in the same timeframe this year, that number increased to 107.
Additionally, the number of frauds doubled - an issue which is correlated to many of the thefts.
“Many are credit cards and debit cards (taken) from unlocked vehicles,” explained Walton.
Bike thefts - which were also on the rise this year both within the town and the larger Comox Valley - were connected mostly to one resident, noted Walton.
He added there have been no residential break and enters in the first quarter of the year.