PENTICTON – A rash of break-ins and thefts in Penticton has RCMP warning residents.
Police say apartment laundry rooms and storage lockers are being targeted.
RCMP responded to eight incidents between Friday and Monday, six of which were related to apartment buildings in the city.
Police say coin operated laundry machines were broken into and damaged at apartment complexes on Birch Avenue, Fairview Road and Scott Avenue.
Items including clothing and liquor were stolen from storage lockers at complexes on Wade Avenue, Winnipeg Street and Van Horne Street.
The other two incidents involved local businesses on South Main Street: one attempted break-in at M&M Meat Shops and a successful break-in at Bright Smile Teeth Whitening.
“They came in with a shopping list because they took exactly what they needed to start up their own teeth whitening business,” explains Craig Pedersen, Bright Smile Teeth Whitening Co-Owner.
He says he plans to step up security measures.
“I’m somewhat concerned that they may come back to get more supplies if they’re out.”
He adds it’s unknown when the break-in happened, other than it was sometime over the weekend.
Pedersen says the resale value of the stolen goods is $20,000.
He says the suspect could have been a former customer because they knew exactly what kind of supplies to steal.
“We’ve determined that the suspect or suspects are getting into the building by simply buzzing at the door until someone lets them in,” explains Sergeant Rick Dellebuur with Penticton RCMP.
He says there was a series of similar thefts a year ago so many residents who have laundry facilities know to empty the machines regularly.
“We have a couple of suspects and we’re following up. Hopefully we can get these individuals.”
Dellebuur says he believes the apartment break-ins are related, but he is not sure about whether the incidents involving businesses on Skaha Lake Road having anything to do with the apartment break-ins.
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