(CKPG News File).

By Aaron Schulze

Fort St. John Break and Enters

Fort St. John RCMP warn of spike in business break and enters

Oct 23, 2021 | 2:13 PM

FORT ST. JOHN — Over the past two weeks, Fort St. John RCMP say they have received a rash of commercial break and enter reports.

The first report came in Oct. 6 at Amanda’s No Frills where a lone suspect entered the building and stole numerous items. Additional reports came in on Oct. 15 for Mastaro Sushi and MJ Café Crepe, on Oct. 16 for KFC, and Oct.18 for Audilicious. Police say all the incidents occurring during the nighttime hours and cash appeared to be the main target.

Additionally, Fort St. John RCMP are investigating commercial break and enters to compounds where individuals broke into locked compounds and stole large items.

Police say suspects broke into Northern Roy Environmental by cutting the chain link fence and stealing a flat deck trailer and a Kawasaki UTV on Oct.14, cut the chain linked fence to gain entry into Alpine Storage and stole a 2019 Keystone Cougar travel trailer on Oct. 16, and forced entry into Eecol Electric and stole a roll of cooper wire on Oct.18.

RCMP say thieves are usually looking for what is quick and easy with the best payoff, and that areas that are dark or secluded, have little local traffic, and hold potential valuables are prime targets.

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Tips to protect businesses and possessions include:

• always storing money under lock and key and preferably where it would not be easily located or accessed
• not maintaining a float of cash, even if it is change in the till unattended overnight
• ensuring all doors, windows and gates are locked and alarms are set
• maintaining video surveillance systems
• maintaining area lighting which illuminates dark or large open areas
• ensuring vehicles are locked and valuable documents or possessions are removed
• putting hitch locks on trailers as they require time for offenders to deal with

With the sudden rash of break and enters, police are not ruling out that this is the work of the same person or a group of persons and are continuing to investigate. When there is a sudden spike of similar offences, RCMP say it is typical that a new offender has moved in or returned to the area.

Fort St. John RCMP say they will continue overnight patrols across the city and wish to partner with the community to catch the thief or thieves.

Anyone who has seen any suspicious activity during overnight hours at or near these locations are asked to contact Fort St. John RCMP at (250) 787-8100 or B.C. Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477.